The Monster in the Hall

When the lead character is introduced, by an all-American harmony group in pink sunglasses, as a Miss Duck Macatarsney, it's a sure sign that this is going to be no ordinary 75 minutes.

David Greig's latest play for young people is a wildly imaginative, multi-dimensional musical farce combining motorbikes and multiple sclerosis, sixties girl groups and social services, fairy tales and fantasy roleplay.

The core plot is fairly straightforward – an impending visit from social services throws the Macatarsney household into even more chaos than usual, and the arrival of some unexpected guests only adds to the confusion – but the telling is anything but. Four actors hurl themselves around a tiny, bare stage, providing live sound effects and every so often bursting into song as young carer Duck escapes into a dream world.

Anyone who saw TAG's production of Greig's outstanding Yellow Moon will recognise the style, and some of the actors, and while The Monster In The Hall doesn't quite reach the same heights, it's still beautifully observed, cleverly constructed and very enjoyable.

The unforgiving acoustics of the Reidvale Centre auditorium didn't make things easy for the cast early on in their tour, but it they were fazed, they didn't show it.

Keith Macpherson and David Carlyle are great as Duck's dad Duke and love interest Lawrence, and Beth Marshall has the most fun as two contrasting and pleasingly three-dimensional visitors, but it's Gemma McIlhinney's 16-year-old Duck around whom they all revolve. She's flawed but charming, confident but scared, and sympathetic but certainly no victim. She's the sort of heroine who is all too rarely found on stage or on screen.

Under the direction of Guy Hollands, with choreography by Andrew Panton and fabulous bursts of music from Nigel Dunn and Stephen Wright, it's all made to look easy. The odd touch may be just a little too obvious – a brief Mastermind appearance is packed with exposition – but it's all performed with a wink and a smile and even the most sceptical teenagers are likely to be swept along for the ride.

Reviewed at the Reidvale Centre in Dennistoun, Glasgow.