In this musical production of 101 Dalmatians, Tom, a struggling fashion designer (played energetically and awkwardly by Samuel Thomas) owns Pongo and they meet the very sweet Danielle (Jessie Elland) alongside her Dalmatian, Perdi, in the park.
There is an awkward exchange whilst the leads get entwined around the owners and also while the dogs get to know each other by smelling each other’s bottoms - all dog owners can relate to those embarrassing moments - however, a romance ensues and Tom and Danielle move in together.
A stroke of luck enters their lives when Tom receives a message saying that Cruella de Vil, the owner of a fashion house, would like to see his designs.
Unfortunately, he forgets his portfolio but Danielle comes to the rescue by turning up with his drawings and has Pongo and Perdi with her.
On seeing the two Dalmatians Cruella becomes obsessed with having a Dalmatian skin coat and when she hears the adult dogs have had a litter of puppies she offers to buy them all for a vast amount of money which the couple refuse to do.
Casper and Jasper, her two nephews, are then told to steal the puppies alongside many more Dalmatian pups so she can create a fur coat.
Kym Marsh as Cruella, is a fabulous villain and not only looks incredible in her dramatic costumes adorned with white and black hair, but has an astounding singing voice allowing her to belt out her songs. And my oh my does she have a devilish laugh to boot!
I liked the imaginative twist in this production when Cruella takes some animal medicine to stop her itching, but as it’s not suitable for humans, she develops some werewolf characteristics - her hair becomes dishevelled (reminiscent of Cruella’s hairstyle in the Disney film) and she gains a
heightened sense of smell which allows her to track down dogs.
This production is veering on pantomime due to the interaction with the audience in places and the slapstick comedy brilliantly conveyed between Casper and Jasper (Charles Brunton and Danny Hendrix).
However, I found the idea of two actors standing either side of the stalls with French Bulldog hand puppets rather unnecessary as this slightly blocked the action of what was going on on the stage during the “Twilight Bark” and the puppets disturbingly looked more decapitated than cute.
It also has that cartoonesque feel, particularly when Cruella’s car breaks down and falls apart but also some of the costumes - there are plenty of deliberately short trousers coupled with brogues or patterned socks peeping below the hems.
A huge mention must go to the puppeteers who brought Pongo and Perdi and many puppies to life, almost making you forget that they weren’t real due to the doggy characteristics they created.
Their speaking voices and singing voices suited their canine puppet brilliantly. Linford Johnson as Pongo, Emma Thornett as Perdi alongside Ross Dorrington, Jasmine Triadi and Hugo Rolland who were the puppeteers for some of the pups had very physical roles to play and
carried these out with effortless grace.
All in all this is an uplifting show ideally suited to a young family but Linda, the real Dalmatian puppy who was carried on by Danny Hendrix at the end, was undoubtedly the most special moment of the whole production.
A Little Back Story
This musical is a modern take on the original novel by Dodie Smith and the 1961 animated comedy film produced by Walt Disney Productions.
In the children’s book Mr Dearly, a successful financier, lives with his wife and their Dalmatians, Pongo and Missis, in Regent’s Park.
Whilst out walking the dogs, the couple have a chance meeting with an old school friend of Mrs Dearly, Cruella de Vil, who married a furrier due to her passion for fur clothing.
She is greatly attracted to the dogs’ fur and expresses her wish to have a Dalmation fur coat.
When Missis gives birth to fifteen puppies Mr and Mrs Dearly refuse to sell them to Cruella who then hires a couple of crooks to steal them for her.
By this time she has also acquired another 82 puppies.
When the puppies are rescued from Hell Hall, Pongo and Missis return to Mr and Mrs Dearly plus Perdita, the canine wet nurse who had helped raise Pongo and Missis’ pups and Perdita’s long lost love, Prince, who is the one hundred and oneth Dalmatian.
In the 1961 animated film, Roger Radcliffe, an aspiring songwriter, lives in a bachelor flat with his Dalmatian, Pongo. Deciding they both need a ‘mate’, Pongo observes the ladies and female dogs in their street.
When Pongo spots a young lady called Anita and her dog, Perdita, he gets his owner to take him to the park earlier than normal where the dog owners meet and eventually marry.
Pongo and Perdita also form a relationship and are expecting their puppies to be born when Cruella de Vil pays a visit to her former school friend, Anita, to see them.
She asks to be kept posted when they arrive and when they are born she offers to buy the whole litter. Roger refuses to sell them to her and Cruella storms out swearing her revenge. She hires two burglars, Horace and Jasper, to steal them. Pongo and Perdita use the “Twilight Bark” to alert all the dogs in London to track them down.
An old English Sheepdog and his feline friend, Sergeant Tibbs, decide to search the abandoned De Vil Place where they discover 99 Dalmatian pups.
