On an ocean of possibilities hidden inside a duck pond, a world of possibilities hidden inside the seemingly impossible. A boy (Keir Ogilvy) revisits the very pond where he and his old friend Lettie Hempstock (Millie Hikasa) many years ago discovered the seemingly impossible and the wonders and horrors it possessed. Based on Neil Gaiman’s novel of the same name, the National Theatre production is brought to life once again.
Set designer Fly Davis immediately captures the audience's attention with an incredibly detailed garden/forest backdrop. Bedecked with trees and vines the scene is immediately set and we expect to find ourselves transported through a magical and enchanted story.
The show itself is an interesting one, and the staged production is brilliant. Visually enticing and engrossing however the storyline is confusing, it feels theirs so much happening at a single time that it’s hard to understand what’s happening. It almost feels like it suffers due to quantity over quality, rather than focus more on particular parts in detail it adds in what feels like too much. The cast all perform well. A few standouts are the two leads in ‘Boy’ and ‘Lettie’ the duo exude strong chemistry and both give an energetic performance. Two others to note would be the Dad (Trevor Fox) and Ursula (Charlie Brooks). Fox’s performance makes us both sympathise and empathise with a struggling father trying to give his all. As for Brooks, she’s fantastic as villain Ursula. An eerie and creepy demeanour makes her unsettling yet we can’t help but follow her every move.
One thing that the show does incredibly well with is the use of both puppetry and psychical theatre. The ensemble is magnificent when they transition through scenes, combine that with lighting from Paule Constable and there are some truly wonderful scenes unfolding in front of you. The puppetry in the ocean scenes is both inventive and innovative. It’s a clever adaption of the novel and kudos to Joel Horwood for the adaption and to Katy Rudd for the direction, it’s a visually impressive show that captivates. With a stunning set and clever lighting, it’s an unforgettable production even if the source material is forgettable.
Review by George Butler
Rating: ★★★★
Seat: Stalls O6 | Price of Ticket: £41.00
