THE BFG. To 12 September.
Tour.
THE BFG
by Roald Dahl adapted by David Wood.
Tour to 12 September 2009.
Runs 1hr 45min One interval.
Review: Timothy Ramsden 26 March at Royal and Derngate (Royal Theatre) Northampton.
Lively and colourful, high-energy show.
Subtlety, depth, ingenuity: not qualities abundant in Roald Dahl. But adapter David Wood allows for plenty of the raucous, rude and rough-humoured qualities that delighted the post-Blyton, pre-Potter generations of childhood readers.
Wood’s 1991 adaptation uses the useful device of the play-within-a-play. It’s Sophie’s birthday party. Her brother’s present is a copy of her favourite book (guess which). Then parents arrive, pooping the party by saying the children’s entertainer can’t make it. Unfazed, Sophie sets the guests – and her parents - to help act the BFG story out.
In Phil Clark’s lively, colourful revival this all goes with a fine comic swing. Designer Sean Crowley places the action in child’s-view perspective with huge bunk-beds at the opening, replacing Anthony Pedley’s amiable BFG with a gigantic model when the action moves to adult-ratio Buckingham Palace. And, while Pedley plays the giant Becky John operates and speaks for a model Sophie.
Crowley’s design allows for a division between the BFG’s home and the outer world behind, where big unfriendly giants, masked and warty creatures, loom in a threatening gang, taunting and invading like neighbourhood bullies. There’s threat in Dahl’s world, as much as the fun of the BFG’s favourite, flatulence-inducing drink.
Wood’s device of the partygoers creating the story allows for free coming-and-going as actors change character, and makes space for the very professional skill with which Clark’s cast play (i.e. act) and play (i.e. musical instruments). A sense of happiness pervades the stage, paralleling the fun of a party: which, for many in the audience, this will doubtless be.
Which isn’t to deny the skill with which it’s performed throughout. And especially by Pedley, who despite his character’s giant status, shows the BFG is another version of the lone child happy to make friends outside the rougher kids who only want to mock and bully. And by John, whose Sophie initiates the energy that brings a triumph of activity out of the potential tragedy of disappointment and proves that making your own entertainment is best of all. Along, of course, with actively enjoying such a finely-produced piece of theatre as this.
The BFG: Anthony Pedley.
Sophie: Becky John.
Queen of England/Ensemble: Heather Phoenix.
Queen of Sweden/Ensemble: Naomi Lee Schulke.
Mary/Ensemble: Louise Shuttleworth.
Ronald Sinkins/Ensemble: Darrell Brockis.
Sam Sink,ins/Ensemble: Adam Baxter.
Mr Tibbs/Ensemble: Iwan Tudor.
Ensemble: Sam Pay, Lucy Abbs.
Director: Phil Clark.
Designer: Sean Crowley.
Lighting: Ceri James.
Sound: Mike Beer.
Composer: Paula Gardiner.11–15 August Tue 7pm Wed11am, 2pm Thu-Fri 2pm, 6.30pm Sat 11am, 2pm, 6pm Oxford Playhouse 01865 305305 www.oxfordplayhouse.com
25–29 August Tue 7pm Wed 11am, 2pm Thu-Fri 2pm, 7pm Sat 11am, 2pm, 6pm Palace Theatre Manchester 0844 847 2275 (24hr). www.manchestertheatres.com
1-5 September Tue 7pm Wed 10.30am, 5pm Thu 1.30pm, 5pm Fri 7pm Sat 11am, 2pm, 6pm King’s Theatre Glasgow 0871 297 5454 www.kings-glasgow.co.uk
8–12 September Tue 7pm Wed-Thu 10.30am, 1.30pm Fri 10.30am, 7pm Sat 11am, 2pm, 6pm Assembly Hall Tunbridge Wells 01892 530613/532072 www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk
2009-03-31 13:35:04