Is there room in your heart for a hound? Are you ready to be (bow)wowed by brilliant puppetry and rescued by barking-mad, four-legged, fur-bulous fun? Yes? You need to be spotted at Milton Keynes Theatre this week, where you will be entertained by a pack of scampering, singing and speaking pooches.
This isn’t a Disney production, so the storyline joins the dots in ways that differ to the animated film, but the puppy-themed premise is the same. Spotty doggies are in trouble when fashionista Cruella de Vil plots to dognap all the Dalmatian puppies in town to create her fabulous new fur coat, writes Georgina Butler.
The show features sweet reminders about the importance of family and friendship, plus plenty of gags for giggles. Some cast members go for walkies in the auditorium. And the panto-esque peril ensures pace and purpose, without scaring the youngest theatregoers out of their skin.
It’s a cute, compelling, cartoonish canine caper. Right up until the tail-wagging happy ending!
I think I need to hold my paws up to having a soft spot for animal puppets in theatre – previous experiences have included being enchanted by exquisite equines in War Horse and swept away by beautiful beasts in Life of Pi. I was hoping for a treat with 101 Dalmatians (while also cueing myself to resist any temptation to start counting) and the plucky pups – and clever cats – littered throughout this show are spot on.
From the busy opening scene in Puppy Love Dogs Home, it is apparent that all eyes will be on the dogs – dogs of all shapes and sizes, not just Dalmatians. An elderly Great Dane. A parading pink Poodle. A shaggy haired Schnauzer. A mismatched menagerie of melodious mongrels…
A whiffy newcomer to the rehoming centre finds a reason to woof when a bath reveals his spots and mild-mannered assistant Danielle succumbs to his charm, agreeing that this Dalmatian belongs with her. In the park, Pongo (a muscular, elegantly athletic dog – okay, puppet – masterfully manoeuvred and voiced by Linford Johnson) befriends lady Dalmatian Perdi (Emma Thornett), owned by fledgling fashion designer Tom. Some bottom sniffing follows, then they move in together – along with their human guardians, who they regard as their pets.
Soon, Pongo and Perdi become proud parents of fifteen puppies. The puppies! From their first appearance as spotless newborns in cosy wicker baskets to bounding around the stage as polka-dotted mischief-makers, these are tykes you will want to take home. They are “only little”, but they take being trapped in a doggy dungeon, venturing up to a rooftop and discovering the great outdoors – not to mention meeting their very first C A T – in their creatively choreographed stride.
The humans are a tonic too. Danielle (Jessie Elland) and Tom (Samuel Thomas) take it in turns to either be tongue-tied or tie themselves up in knots talking excessively. Fortunately, Pongo and Perdi simply run rings around them, tying them up with their leads so they have no choice but to converse and connect. “Who is rescuing who?” indeed.
Cruella de Vil’s nephews, Casper and Jasper (Charles Brunton and Danny Hendrix), make for a criminally good double act. Perpetually pandering to their "Auntie C", they are persuaded to pinch the puppies. Nonetheless, theatregoers should trust that they are men of principle beneath the puns and physical comedy.
Cruella de Vil? She is an animal lover. She loves them “here and here and here”. (If you adopt a toy puppy from the merchandise stand before the show, perhaps cover puppy's eyes at this point as the gestures to accompany this declaration suggest Cruella is already envisioning a new top, a belt and a pair of skin-tight trousers.) Kym Marsh sassily embodies everything Cruella needs to be by strutting, sashaying, sneering and stepping up as a songstress.
The songs are playful and enjoyable, but perhaps not memorable enough for you to find yourself humming them all on the way home. They are packed full of topical witticisms, but sometimes the volume of the live orchestra and speed of the delivery threatens to dampen their impact. (As an aside, keep the live orchestras coming please, musicians who sit and stay in the pit are a huge part of theatre, especially for family shows.) There is more than enough to delight in though, particularly with reprises of scene-setting ‘Take Me Home’, toe-tapping patter song ‘Litterbugs’ and celebratory anthem ‘One Added Extra’ bringing furry familiarity to the fore.
The combination of puppetry (Jimmy Grimes, War Horse) and choreography (Lucy Hinds, Girl From The North Country) unleashes puppy, pussycat and pedestrian magic. Without a doubt, the movement that really captivates is performed by the puppets and their puppeteers. Still, ‘Litterbugs’ sees Casper and Jasper darting and diving their way through a puppy pile-up. And, in the Hair of the Dog pub, a somersaulting bartender is among the barnstorming bipedal movers.
Dog lover? Theatre lover? Simply dog-tired of it raining cats and dogs? Fetch one of the remaining tickets for 101 Dalmatians.
Running time: Approximately 2 hours 20 minutes, including an interval.
Age guidance: 5+
101 Dalmatians continues at Milton Keynes Theatre until Saturday 5 October.
Georgina Butler is an editor, a dance writer and a ballet teacher. Visit https://georginabutler.co.uk and follow her on Twitter @GeorginaLButler and Instagram @glbdancewriter
