Demon Dentist – Belgrade Theatre, Coventry

Writer: David Walliams

Adaptor andDirector: Neal Foster

Alfie is twelve and a child carer to his dad, disabled by pneumoconiosis. Alfie hasn’t been to the dentist for six years after a bad experience – which we see in a gloriously funny slapstick flashback that sets the tone for the evening. But then a new dentist, Miss Root, appears and offers to fix Alfie’s neglected teeth. At the same time, children are putting their teeth under their pillows, but rather than getting them exchanged for a shiny pound, they find a load of unpleasant stuff like dead frogs under their pillows. Could these facts be related?

Demon Dentist is fast-moving, slick and just a little bit scary. High production values are evident throughout. Jacqueline Trousdale’s set is designed to allow for quick transitions between locations and has a distinctly gothic feel, as does Jak Poore’s music. Jason Taylor’s lighting design reinforces the gothic atmosphere.

Emily Harrigan’s Miss Root is pure and unalloyed evil, and as such is really rather two-dimensional. She stalks the stage, appearing to fill it and giving off creepy Cruella de Ville-type vibes. Harrigan also has a belting voice. The characters of Alfie and his dad, played by Sam Varley and James Mitchell respectively, are more fleshed out and one does feel empathy for them – dad’s distress that he is dependent on Alfie, and Alfie’s evident love for his dad are front and centre. Their duet as they go on imaginary adventures each day is both striking and moving. Georgia Grant-Anderson brings us Gabz, Alfie’s sparky positively-not-girlfriend. She is a more-than-equal partner in their investigations bringing a matter-of-fact manner to their relationship – as well as disgust at the suggestion that they might be more than friends. Supporting them are newsagent Raj (Zain Abrahams) and social worker Winnie (Misha Malcolm). Raj is a regular Walliams character often played for laughs; in Demon Dentist he begins to move away from the stereotypical Asian shopkeeper and the character is all the better for it, becoming much more sympathetic. Malcolm brings us well-meaning and chocolate-loving Winnie – largely played for laughs but with a caring core and a criminally underused fine singing voice

Children in the audience are transfixed by the twists and turns of the developing story. They enjoy the scariness and feeling of peril as the story progresses. Yes, there are loose ends in the plot, but that barely matters. There are some references for the adults too – Raj’s “You looking at me?” sequence with a disembodied eye (yes, really) referencing Taxi Driver is a particular joy. And the scene in which an earnestly enthusiastic drama teacher screams, “Improv!” at everyone in sight during a chase sequence brings smiles and laughs from the adults. The length is also well-judged, with frantic sequences alongside the more reflective, affecting ones.

Especially well-balanced, at its heart, Demon Dentist celebrates the importance of family, friends and loved ones – of having a support network – and it does so in an accessible way alongside the slapstick humour. Another hit for Birmingham Stage Company and David Walliams.

Runs Until 29 October 2022 and on tour