The Falcon's Malteser by Anthony Horowitz

The Falcon’s Malteser trades confidently on slapstick and puns

★★★
kids review (edinburgh) | Read in About 2 minutes
33329 large
121329 original
Published 18 Aug 2015

Tim Diamond is a private detective. The only thing is, he’s not very bright. In fact, it’s entirely possible he doesn’t even know what “thinking” really is.

Luckily, his kid brother Nick is on the case. On all cases, in fact. And we’re with them on their latest: a short South American man in a large hat has left them a strange package in a brown envelope, and £500. If they can take care of the package for one week, there is another £500 waiting.

But what could be so important that simply taking care of it is worth £1,000? A box of Maltesers. Of course. And a whole host of characters want to get their hands on it.

New Old Friends’ stage adaptation of Anthony Horowitz’s The Falcon’s Malteser trades confidently on slapstick and puns. It’s all double takes and direct address, chases on foot through revolving doors and escapes in vans made out of rolling office chairs. The few songs feel slightly out of place, but the show quickly marches onwards.

Horowitz’s mystery contains enough twists to remain fun throughout the hour, while enough clues are dropped along the way that at the end it all comes together. Well, it comes together with a conclusion that is as far-fetched as you would expect.

The cast leap between roles and doing it with heart. This isn’t a production shaded with any subtly, and it is all the better for it.