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Pictures: Matt Crockett 101 Dalmatians Wolverhampton Grand **** This is a new production of the classic
children’s story featuring the seminal Cruella de Vil as fiendish
villainous villainess and, unsurprisingly, 101 dalmatians. The tour alternates
between Kym Marsh of Coronation Street fame, and Faye
Tozer of pop group Steps assuming the role. For this show we
had Tozer, whose performance was anything but a Tragedy as she Stomped
her way through the evening with glorious abandon in animal themed
outfits (costume Sarah Mercadé), ably abetted by her comedic duo
sidekick nephews, played by Danny Hendrix and Charles Brunton. She
personally provides the drive and energy for the show. Her singing and
movement (choreography, Lucy Hind) is superb. A stage production of 101 real dalmatian puppies
would present numerous practical difficulties, and a lot of clearing up,
so instead we are offered ingenious puppets and their puppeteers, which
works brilliantly. Designed by Jimmy Grimes and expertly manipulated by
the ensemble, they replicate every canine mannerism in an inspired
display of anthropomorphism. David Woodhead’s set is simple and versatile,
effortlessly morphing from the park to flat, to De Vil lair. It explodes
into life for a spectacular pyrotechnics finale.
This is not a staged version of the Disney 1962 classic which transformed Dodie Smith’s original 1956 novel. Instead a brand-new musical score has been created by composer and lyricist Douglas Hodge with the script the work of the doyen of Scottish panto Johnny McKnight. Contemporary
references abound with CCTV, mobile phones, and micro-chipped dogs,
ubiquitous, yet set designer Woodhead and director Bill Buckhurst still
ground the action in a stylised 1950’s exaggerated style that makes us
all feel comfortable. The stage adaptation is the work of Zinnie Harris,
and a commendable job she has done in doing that. Consequently the show
veers more towards panto than musical, Tozer becomes the wicked
step-mother and revels in her two big solos Fur Fur,and, I
Can Smell Puppy. The hapless Cruella sidekicks are straight out of
the Home Alone storyboard. But Jimmy Grimes’
puppetry is the beating heart of this production oozing warmth,
bonhomie, charm and intimacy. Pongo and Perdi, puppeteered by Linford
Johnson and Ema Thornett, are a delight. The sentimentality and schmaltz
hits overdrive with A Thousand Kisses, but, it works, it fits,
and it engages with the reprised theme of needing a home particularly
poignant in these times of refugees and homelessness. Take Me Home
is a moving tearjerker. I took a nine year old girl as a companion- she loved it, and the 7pm start time is ideal for a young, family audience who rewarded an energetic evening with a standing ovation, and a mix of theatrical boos for Cruella and cheers for her performance. This is a hugely entertaining reimagining of the original story with plenty of humour and panto style laughs. It runs until Sat 24th before continuing on nationwide tour. Gary Longden 20-08-24 |
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