Review: Chichester Festival Theatre's Famous Five proves the 20th century critics wrong

She was the most successful, most prolific, most translated, and biggest selling children’s author of all time – and her books often featuring mystery and adventure are still eagerly read by youngsters around the world. But at the time, Enid Blyton was loathed by the critics who condemned her simplistic writing style and her middle class depictions of every day life –branding her elitist, sexist, racist, and xenophobic.

Given that these are all descriptors that Daniel Evans certainly is not – you will be hard pressed to find a more progressive, inclusive, forward thinking director in the land – a Blyton revival might seem an odd choice to close Festival 22. Elinor Cook’s book and Theo Jamieson’s music and lyrics – based on Blyton’s actual works – robustly challenges the view of the mid 20th century opponents.

The lead character of the Famous Five is George – Christened Georgina but who is determined to be treated as a boy. Far from being sexist, there is a real sense that Blyton was pushing back the boundaries that confined girls as second class to their male siblings.

Blyton also had a strong sense of right and wrong – a moral framework for all her stories, never better exemplified than in her novel Six Bad Boys. George’s father, Uncle Quentin is an absent minded professor – always seeking through his science to make the world a better place. This version focuses on his determination to do so and the price the family pays for his single-minded obsession.

Designer Lucy Osborne gives us a set that hints at so many other themes. The trees resonate in their shape with the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) logo – you can well imagine in later years George herself might have joined the protesters at Greenham Common.

At its heart though, this production embraces the children’s spirit of adventure – solving mysteries, exploring secret passages, capturing criminals, ensuring right triumphs – while forever eating picnics and, of course, drinking lashings of ginger beer.

A co-production with Theatr Clwyd, the young cast are on sparkling form. Maria Goodman as George gives an extraordinarily commanding performance. The two puppeteers are outstanding – and Ailsa Dalling truly brings the fifth member of the Five, Timmy the dog, to life.

The music and song may not be the most memorable, but they keep the production whizzing along.

In 1952, at the peak of her powers, Blyton penned the book ‘Five Have a Wonderful Time’. It’s very clear in this happy revival not just they but of all us are doing so too. At the same time, we are left with the distinct impression that Blyton was far more progressive and radical than she might ever have had credit for while she was alive.

Oh Daniel, how we are going to miss you – but this beautiful vignette is the perfect show to bring down the curtain.