THE ENORMOUS CROCODILE Roald Dahl, adapted Mike Kenny. Sherman Studio then to

Cardiff

THE ENORMOUS CROCODILE
by Roald Dahl, adapted Mike Kenny

Sherman Studio to 29 December 2001, then tour
Runs 50 mins No interval

TICKETS 029 2064 6900
Review Timothy Ramsden 15 December

A happy time with colour, song and humour well geared to its intended age range. This year's Sherman studio show for 3-6s makes a gentle story, quite reminiscent at times of The Gruffalo (currently touring), about a big croc who wouldn't be content with fish dishes. Ignoring his not so big companion's advice that eating children is wrong – if only because they don't taste nice – he ventures in search of a human lunch.

Andy Bradshaw's set focuses on a circular curtain. Before the action begins insects and a giraffe pop up over the curtain. In the play it serves to introduce an elephant and a cheeky monkey with a penchant for making friends with the audience front row.

Not being the friendly type himself, Enormo receives his comeuppance when these creatures warn his potential victim Toto (a body puppet attached to narrator Andrew Lennon) of the danger he's in.

So, two points here; on the advisability of making friends and on sticking to what works. It takes a lot of persuasion, but eventually Enormo goes for the fish.

Mainly, though, Kenny's adaptation is a calm, colourful and friendly story. The actors back this up with smiling faces. Clearly someone's aware that it's not hard to frighten a three or four year old in a theatre. It doesn't happen here, thanks to the script's measured pacing and Stephen Fisher's production, which shows calm does not have to equal dull. One of the Sherman's strongest studio Christmas shows for a number of years.

Tours to Theatr Clwyd Mold, Theatre Royal Bath, The Grand Swansea in January 2002.

Enormo: Chris Durnall
Notso: Einir Sion
Toto: Andrew Lennon

Director: Stephen Fisher
Musical Director: Greg Palmer
Designer/Pupper Consultant: Andy Bradshaw
Lighting: Chris Illingworth

2001-12-17 00:08:05