I was on holiday last week, and Sofa Spud and I decided to take a day trip out to Great Missenden to visit the Roald Dahl Museum. Both of us loved Roald Dahl's books as kids and as adults found great delight in his Tales of the Unexpected.
I never read his story Matilda as a youngster but I thoroughly enjoyed the Matilda movie version starring Mara Wilson http://youtube.com/v/iK4iR_stpoo
Why? Well, for an adult the Roald Dahl Museum is a huge disappointment. After paying a six quid entry fee each for being adults, Sofa Spud and I found ourselves thrust into what was basically a children's playground.
Within minutes I'd become extremely grumpy. Kids of all ages were running around like feral animals, and the better behaved ones had camped out in front of anything worth reading about this great author. For some reason the museum curators had chosen to place toys, colouring areas and other juvenile paraphernalia in front of all the information boards.
I couldn't help myself. I barged my way round that Roald Dahl Museum huffing and puffing and glaring with hatred at every pint-sized visitor that crossed my path. I'd become a nasty grown up and there was nothing anyone could do about it.
This museum is solely aimed at kids and focuses solely on Dahl's children's literature. I'm sure little-uns have a great time and I don't begrudge them that, but I really do think that adults should be made aware of the museum's content when they arrive, and they certainly shouldn't be charged a higher entry fee than the children.
Rant over.
Matilda is showing today, 9th October, on Fiver at 6pm.
