By Melissa Antoinette Garza
The UK certainly has some amazing TV specials unlike anything that airs here in the states. THE CHILDREN’S PARTY AT THE PALACE (2006) is a shining example of the magic that is made in England.
Though the production was created to celebrate the 80th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II, the whole day was really for the kids. The palace grounds were splendidly redecorated in homage of authors in British children’s literature.
Children, accompanied by their guardians, were welcomed in and greeted to a brilliant show entitled THE QUEEN’S HANDBAG.
In the play, villains from great fiction are united in The Baddies Club. They have a right to be angry. They weren’t invited to the Queen’s shindig.
Among the devious group of baddies is The Grand High Witch (Patsy Kensit) from THE WITCHES, Henry (Sam Aston) from HORRID HENRY, Cruella de Vil (Amanda Redman) from 101 DALMATIANS and Captain Hook (Anthony Head) from PETER PAN, among many others.
Most notably is the misunderstood and lovely gent, The Child Catcher (Richard O’Brien) from CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG. The Child Catcher is just doing his job, which happens to be imprisoning kids. Is that really a reason to keep him off the invitation list for the Queen’s birthday? Of course not. I blame the media. They’re always so tough on the working man!
The Child Catcher decides to do the only logical thing he can do. Ostracized from civilized society, simply because he hates (and steals kids), he lashes out. He teams up with the cool kids (the bad guys are always the cool kids) to ruin the day for everyone else!
Coincidentally, this character is portrayed by Richard O’Brien! Now some may say that bias is clouding my judgement. To those I say, you’re damn right it is! Richard O’Brien is gorgeous. If it takes locking a few more kids behind bars to make that glorious Child Catcher smile, I say it’s worth it! Not to mention, think of how much more fun it is with the kiddies gone away. I’m all for the Child Catcher, Hook and The Pirate Queen (Jerry Hall) having some adult time together.
Unfortunately, the villains can’t catch a break! No matter what they to do, the plan gets foiled. The Grand High Witch, who simply wanted to poison the birthday cake, can’t even do that in peace.
If that wasn’t bad enough, the cowardly criminal Robin Hood (Sanjee Bhaskar) joins forces with the mischievous and immature Peter Pan (Kacey Ainsworth) to take down Hook. Not only is Hook jumped by the thief of Sherwood Forest, but then the kids in the audience cheer for Pan and company! I think any reasonable person can see that the Child Catcher has a point. The children are bloodthirsty maniacs and better locked away from society.
While the bad guys scurry the palace grounds, the Child Catcher is busy at his job. He doesn’t take a break and that level of dedication is to be admired! Here, he is at the Queen’s party (albeit crashing it) and still he’s on the clock. For some unknown reason the kids are suspicious and rude! The Catcher even offers ice cream and a humbug, but to no avail. Paranoid, stranger-danger expert Tracy Beaker (Dani Harmer) not only declines the offer, but insults The Catcher. I don’t like her one bit! No wonder the Catcher wants to get that foul-mouth girl off the streets and into jail. See, his motives are completely just, and I’m not saying that because of my intense adoration of all that is Richard O’Brien. That would be ridiculous! Okay, maybe I’m a tad ridiculous.
Meanwhile, Cruella is trying to get her hand on the Queen’s corgi pups. That’s probably the one villainous plan I’m happy to see thwarted. Cruella needs a new hobby. Don’t get me wrong, I love her fashion sense. She’s got style! She just needs to find another source for fabric.
The one thing the villains almost succeeded at was stealing the Queen’s handbag, but of course the fuzz has to show up and ruin everything. Then just to put the nail in the coffin of fun, Mary Poppins (Scarlett Strallen) shows up with advice on how to be clean, neat and good. She also says that the bad guys will never win in a children’s story. Hey Poppins, tell that to the Riverbottom Nightmare Band. They destroyed Emmet Otter and his mom at the talent show! Truth be known, even when Richard O’Brien isn’t involved, I usually find myself rooting for the bad guy. O’Brien’s presence just makes that a guarantee.
I love this. The performances are brilliant all around. The atmosphere is fun and light. The music and costumes are fantastic. There are plenty of cool and interesting segments including one with Harry Potter and another with Winnie the Pooh and a bunch of other characters kids will instantly recognize.
In the end Queen Elizabeth II arrives with Prince Phillip and discusses the importance of reading. It’s a great message, and it’s easy to see that the kids in the audience were in their glory. I’m sure attending was an event of a lifetime and one they will forever cherish. It is fantastic that they put this much effort, whimsy and love into showing the children how entertaining and enjoyable reading can be. To some kids, this was probably the first introduction to many of these classic characters, and what an introduction it was!
Even if Richard O’Brien wasn’t in this, I’d recommend it; but I am ever so happy that he is. He is dashing in the costume! Maybe, The Child Catcher could change professions to a Lady Catcher. He would have a line, miles long, of very willing women ready to jump aboard his carriage. I know I’d be shouting, “dibs!”
Track this baby down by any means necessary. It isn’t currently available for rent or purchase, but it is on YOUTUBE and DAILY MOTION. Watch it and download it if you can, before the copyright cops boot it because I’m not sure when or if BBC is ever going to put an official release out.
Scared Stiff Rating: 8.5/10
Richard O’Brien 11/10 (the math checks out)
