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Roald Dahl at its finest – fabulously funny, with snappy songs, perfect puppetry and a sensational cast, delivering an outstanding production that will entertain the whole family.Summary
Rating
Unmissable!
It’s pouring as I arrive at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre – but this was a risk well worth taking, because the moment The Enormous Crocodile the Musical opened its doors the sun shone and an hour of joyous, energetic fun began! Roald Dahl’s hilarious story is staged with commendable authenticity and splendid spectacle in this outstanding production, directed by Emily Lim.
The Enormous Crocodile wants a tasty child for his lunch and, unfortunately for us, this theatre is full of them! Luckily a pack of Jungle Juniors scouts are nearer, and it’s up to the other animals to save them before they become his snacks.
Already excited because I was going to see the extraordinarily talented Audrey Brisson (Amelie) and Nuwan Hugh Perera (Life of Pi) alongside puppets by Toby Olié and Daisy Beattie, I was definitely not disappointed. What an amazing cast! Malinda Parris, Joanna Adaran and Elise Zavou complete a talented team of quadruple threats: they act, sing, dance and additionally control multiple puppets, all with different characters and mechanics. It’s a triumph!
Secret plans and clever tricks bring added value to the show: there’s magic from the start with floating bubbles popping to release a smoky jungle haze over the auditorium. The venue lends itself brilliantly to the tropical environment as characters emerge from foliage that sways in the breeze, engaging playfully with the audience, whilst Fly Davis’ colourful set and costume design is imaginatively flexible, at times surprising, and aesthetically complementary to the original.
The puppets are many, varied and innovative, constantly entertaining; from small handheld birds to humanettes, half-body costumes and the crocodile himself in multiple articulated and hilariously mobilised forms that will make you howl with laughter. It took me a minute to reconcile that some of the puppets’ mouths weren’t opening, but this allows a consistent focus on the strong cast, who bring the characters alive seamlessly
The audience gasped aloud when Parris entered as a glorious, rolling Enormous Crocodile. She is a delightful baddie with an astonishing voice; rich, robust and resonant, perhaps with a hint of Ursula. Controlling a huge, articulated, wheeled beast, she still manages to deliver piercingly, sending chills down tiny spines. Meanwhile, Perera is an utter joy to watch, his puppetry particularly nuanced as the bird and scout, but his farting hippo is particularly adorable (quote that at the Oliviers!). The Roly-Poly bird is played with liquid loveliness by Brisson, whose full body beautifully becomes the elegant creature; playful and agile. Adaran’s Trunky, with wonderfully self-animated ears, is charming, whilst Zavou as Muggle-Wump and the Teacher offers excellent comic moments.
Snappy compositions (courtesy of Ahmed Abdullahi Gallab with lyrics by Suhayla El-Bushra) are overseen with precision and pace by Musical Director Tom Brady, bringing dynamic texture to the tale. Tiny tots and adults alike were clapping along and celebrating the fun.
The final scenes are an excellent example of how theatre, and puppetry in particular, can make the impossible happen, as the whole audience helps see off the Enormous Crocodile before he is literally sent flying into the sun and sizzles up like a sausage. No rewriting the original here – a fully authentic, Dahl ending, which will have you jumping for joy.
This is a wonderfully fun tale with a simple message. It creates an active audience, encouraged to be brave and shown how individuals are more powerful at tackling a bully when they collaborate. More than that, the outstanding quality and talent invested in this production for an audience of four year-olds is a fabulous recognition of the value we should always place on our children’s creative experiences. Bravo team! We’ll take more of this.
Developed & Directed by: Emily Lim
Book & Lyrics by: Suhayla El-Bushra
Co-Directed & Puppetry Design by: Toby Olié
Associate Puppet Design & Puppet Supervision by: Daisy Beattie
Orchestrations, Arrangements & Music Supervisor & Additional music and lyrics by: Tom Brady
Set & Costume Design by: Fly Davis
The Enormous Crocodile the Musical is aimed at ages 4+ and runs at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre until Saturday 8 June. Details can be found here.
