101 Dalmatians
I’ve got a proper soft spot for the Disney adaptation of 101 Dalmatians. The adaptation of Dodie Smith’s children’s novel, in which two Dalmatians set out to rescue their puppies from the clutches of the wicked Cruella De Vil, is a classic.
101 Dalmatians: The Musical, composed by Douglas Hodge and written by Johnny McKnight, draws quite a bit from the 1961 animated film in its design, which is one of the show’s greater strengths.
The human heroes Tom and Danielle’s flat echoes the orange warmth from the film, together with their cartoon-esque costumes, and Cruella’s manor house is equally cartoonish. I particularly enjoyed the countryside car chase.
The dogs, Pongo, Perdy, and their large litter are brought to life, as are the other animals in the show, with some wonderfully lifelike puppets. Pongo and Perdy are played and controlled by Emma Thornett and Linford Johnson, and a very good job they do. I was especially impressed by Emma, bending down operating Perdy and singing her heart out! The whole ensemble brought personality to their puppet characters. A clever touch was the pairing of pets with owners in the opening number ‘Take Me Home’.
From a design point of view, everything on stage is eye-catching, particularly Cruella’s wardrobe.
Cruella (Kerry Ellis) is a high profile fashion designer, with a penchant for skin and fur. And no qualms about how she can obtain them!
The score is well-sung but the songs are a bit forgettable, however the colour and fun being had onstage, makes up for this.
Kerry Ellis is undoubtedly the star of the show, and shows sheer glamourous class, wickedness and energy as Cruella. She owns the stage, and her command of her musical numbers is unsurprisingly (given her pedigree) exceptional.
Although 101 Dalmatians the musical is aimed at children, there's plenty in the script to keep adults entertained too. The production is polished, and the book and effective direction that sees the cast make great use of the auditorium, means there is always something going onto captivate young and old. The costumes are colourful and the songs are mostly fun and upbeat. The youngsters in the audience were completely engrossed from start to finish.
101 Dalmatians the musical is a bit barking mad! But it doesn't take itself too seriously. All in all it’s a great night out at the theatre for the family. And there is a lovely cute spotty surprise at the end!
This show was reviewed on the 4th December 2024 at the New Theatre, Oxford. The tour concludes at the Brighton Theatre Royal running from the 17th December - 5th January 25. Tickets available here: Tour - 101 Dalmatians
Review written by Ruth Hawkins
Photo credit: Matt Crockett
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