THE BFG. To 10 January.

Bolton

THE BFG
by Roald Dahl adapted by David Wood

Octagon Theatre To 10 January 2004
Mon-Sat 7.15pm Mat 2.15pm
Runs 1hr 45min One interval

TICKETS: 01204 520661
www.octagonbolton.co.uk
Review: Timothy Ramsden 24 December

Successful staging using a fascinating variety of theatrical devices.There's one thing film can easily do, but must be difficult in staging Roald Dahl's well-known story: the title character and his less friendly countryfolk are built on a different scale from the human characters. Physically, that is. They're far more similar in emotional terms.

But hard problems can create satisfying solutions. Simple camera tricks or digital wizardry on screen could hardly be as stimulating, or as good at drawing audiences in, as the solutions director Sue Reddish and designer Dominie Hooper have provided, backed up by the skills available on, and behind, stage at the Octagon.

A range of devices which, some years ago, would have been the province of specialist physical theatre or mime festivals, find natural acceptance here for their story-enhancing ingenuity. The masked costumes for the human-devouring giants are the most traditional part of it. As is the huge puppet substituting for Carl Cieka's BFG on the visit to Buckingham Palace floppily introduced crawling in because he's too tall to stand even in the grandest human house (the puppet's inability to eat food he's offered is quietly glossed over too).

But general audiences can readily accept nowadays the device of Sophie sitting in bed while Cieka's giant stands outside the window of a model house representing the orphanage where she's unhappily placed. And the model Sophie manipulated by Rebekah Manning creates a wonderful duality the model's moves and apparent facial expressions (yes, it can seem to express feelings despite transparently not changing) being unified with Manning's vocal expression. Next to Stirling's Snow Baby, this is the most expressive piece of inanimate material I've come across this year let us on your imaginary forces work, indeed.

Most other characters have little to do but be horrible (humans) or sinister (giants), which they do, without hisses and boos, but as cardboard villains as pantomime can offer. It's where their similarities lie Sophie faces quick devouring by Giant or slow crushing by evil orphanage-keeper Mrs Clonkers. Meanwhile the equally lonely Sophie and BFG have the necessary pathos which avoids sympathy-seeking sentimentality by being matched with active, resourceful minds.

Guy/Headteacher/Mr Tibbs: Adam Bennett
The BFG: Carl Cieka
Rebecca/Gizzardgulper/Undermaid/Queen of Sweden: Ria Knowles
Katherine/Meatdripper/Mary: Zoe Lambert
Sophie: Rebekah Manning
Daniel/Bloodbottler/Ronald Simkins/Head of the Army: Daniel Poyser
Bonecruncher/Sam/Head of the Air Force: Darren Southworth
Mrs Clonkers/Fleshlumpeater/Miss Plumridge/Queen of England: Julie Westwood

Director: Sue Reddish
Designer: Dominie Hooper
Lighting: Tom Weir
Sound: Andy Smith
Music/Soundscapes: Andy Garbi
Choreographer: TC Howard
Puppet Coach: Adam Bennett

2003-12-30 15:53:36