Wednesday, 6th November 2024 at the Grand Opera House, York
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Based on Dodie Smith’s novel and stage adapatation by Zinnie Harris, this show takes on a much beloved story and delivers all kinds of charm and fun and loveliness. It’s all fast-paced adventure under direction of Bill Buckhurst, and as far as family shows go, this one is pretty top notch!
As the iconic “animal lover” of fur, Cruella De Vil, Kym Marsh is fabulous. Sassy, funny and just dark enough to thrill without alarming, she is one cracking villain. A sense of Disney-scale drama is also absolutely key of course: Cruella De Vil needs set and costume and music to propel her evil deeds in full glory, and set design from David Woodhead along with costume designs from Sarah Mercadé ensure melodramatic spectacle befitting such a diva. Cruella’s victims are perfectly contrasted: Danielle (Jessie Elland) and Tom (Samuel Thomas) are all sweetness and brightness as they breeze through life as dog-loving bouncy people. When Cruella darkens their door, there’s no doubting whose side we’re on…
Alongside our human characters, we of course have a real reliance on animals in this story, and this production certainly delivers the goods. Linford Johnson and Emma Thornett are a lovable pair as Pongo and Perdi, sweet but with bite when protecting the pack! Hugo Rolland steals many scenes as the young whippersnapper who need a wee… or food… or other puppy things. He’s joined by Eugene Shire and Victoria Compson-Bradford who give real charm and playfulness to the three escaped puppies braving minor peril. And Lottie Johnson is fabulous in giving voice (and plenty of sass) to the kitty becoming the surprise hero figure for lost pups.
Jimmy Grimes may well be the ultimate star of this show though as puppetry designer and director. It’s rare to find such magic in puppetry on stage, where puppeteered characters are front and centre, leading the story. Not only are these puppets credible and impressively accurate in movement and general canine cuteness, but they’re utterly charming as they lead us through this adventure under excellent direction and performances from the ensemble.
Music and lyrics from Douglas Hodge is a bit of a mixed bag – bouncy and light for the pups or deeply dramatic for Cruella, it’s pitch-perfect, but the lyrics aren’t always as strong as the music – perhaps an element down to child-friendliness, but some of the lyrics are, well, clangers…
Book from Johnny McKnighy is another playful winner, with plenty of wisecracks, word play and mean one-liners from our iconic villain in residence. The writing is particularly at its best for the numpty duo Casper (Tom Norman) and Jasper (Danny Hendrix) – nephews and henchmen to Cruella, the pair have barely a brain cell between them but thankfully have an endearing streak too; very helpful for the happy resolution of course.
If you have little ones who love animals, fun and adventure – I think you’d be hard pressed to find a better accessible touring production to take them to – snag yourself some tickets!
101 Dalmatians is at the Grand Opera House, York until November 9th 2024 – more information and tickets can be found here.
Always Time For Theatre 