HERGE'S ADVENTURES OF TINTIN till 12 January

HERGE’S ADVENTURES OF TINTIN
By Georges Remi (Herge), Adapted by David Greig & Rufus Norris
Playhouse Theatre
2 hours (one interval)
12th Dec – 12th Jan
Mon – Sat 7.15pm, Mats Wed & Sat 2pm
Box Office: 0870 060 6631
Review by Harriet Davis 18th December

Fabulous re-imaginingA slightly disorientating opening – featuring opera singers and ninjas with trumpets – soon gives way to a colourful, warm and altogether rather fabulous re-imagining of Herge’s Tintin adventures. David Greig and Rufus Norris’s adaptation was originally staged between The Young Vic and The Barbican in 2005, before this well-deserved revival moved the operation to the more intimate Playhouse.

The pair chose to focus on Tintin in Tibet, presumably because of its tough themes (death, loss, friendship et al) and emotional gravitas. They certainly didn’t choose it because it would be easy to stage. With locations ranging from the swarming metropolis of Kathmandu (Nepal) to the wastelands of the Himalayas, they clearly had their work cut out for them.

And yet every perceivable setback is turned to their advantage thanks to an excellent, versatile set from Ian Macneil, and finely tuned choreography throughout. It’s an athletic show, in which the all-singing, all-dancing, ensemble cast move seamlessly between the action, playing all the instruments, cartwheeling around and – in one particularly memorable scene – levitating inches from the ground.

Matthew Parish makes a suitably endearing Tintin, nicely offset by bad tempered, whisky swigging Captain Haddock (Stephen Finegold, in his element). Many of the original jokes are kept in tact; replete with endless “Blistering barnacles” and “Thundering tycoons” from the ever-charismatic Haddock. Nicola Blackwell is impressive as Castafiori, performing the songs with operatic verve. Miltos Yerolemou plays Snowy, and manages to convey both his mischievousness and his unfailing love of his master (Snowy is, after all, a dog).

The heart of the piece lies with Chang, Tintin’s long-time friend who sufferes a plane crash and is feared dead. The play delves into dark waters when Tintin discovers bodies in the burnt out plane, and there are a few genuinely creepy moments. There are also more than a few laughs, in a show which manages to cater for both old and young in equal measure. Smart, funny, beautifully staged and innovative; this is likely to be the best Christmas show you’ll see. It comes highly recommended.

Thompson: Jeremy Barlow
Castafiora / Mrs Rama: Nicola Blackwell
Lowly Porter: Anil Desai
Mr Rama: Neil D’Souza
Captain Haddock: Stephen Finegold
Chang: Nina Kwok
Blessed Lightning: Steven Lim
Yeti: Daniel Llewelyn-Williams
Calculus: David Newman
Tintin: Matthew Parish
Thompson: Dominic Rouse
Tharkey: Dai Tabuchi
Grand Abbott / Nestor: Daniel Tuite
Snowy: Miltos Yerolemou
All other parts played by member of the company
Direction: Rufus Norris
Adaptation: David Greig & Rufus Norris
Set Design: Ian Macneil
Costumes: Joan Wadge
Lighting: Rick Fisher
Sound: Paul Arditti
Music: Orlando Gough
Movement: Toby Sedgwick

2007-12-19 15:23:52