Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre review round-up for 101 Dalmatians, a newly commissioned musical written by Douglas Hodge (music and lyrics) and Johnny McKnight (book), from a stage adaptation by Zinnie Harris. Based on the book by Dodie Smith, leading the cast as the iconic villain Cruella de Vil is Olivier and Tony Award nominee Kate Fleetwood.
“The show certainly improves as it goes along, and it works best as a children’s show: my two young nieces stayed hooked throughout on press night. So, perhaps a crowd-pleaser for the kids but one which may leave some parents wanting to go walkies.”✭✭
Arifa Akbar
The Guardian
“This puppyish, puppet-led musical based on Dodie Smith’s spotty dog story wins you over with sheer dazzle and bonkers invention.” ✭✭✭✭
Nick Curtis
Evening Standard
“Kate Fleetwood steals the show as an influencer Cruella de Vil in this uneven new family musical” ✭✭✭
Andrzej Lukowski
Time Out
Dalmatians Pongo and Perdi are puppeteered by Danny Collins (Pongo Voice), Emma Lucia (Perdi Voice), Yana Penrose (Perdi Head) and Ben Thompson (Pongo Head).
Casting also includes: Jamil Abbasi (Ensemble), Stuart Angell (Captain Head), George Bukhari (Jasper), Sonya Cullingford (Ensemble), Jade Davies (Swing), Karen Fishwick (Danielle), Joseph Fletcher (Ensemble), Taofique Folarin (Swing), Courtney George (Ensemble), Tash Holway (Swing and Dance Captain), CJ Johnson (Ensemble), Kody Mortimer (Ensemble), Simon Oskarsson (Swing), Tom Peters (Captain Voice), Eric Stroud (Dominic), Jonny Weldon (Casper), and Grace Wylde (Madam Doué).
Joining the company are musicians Ollie Boorman, Sam Edgington, Tom Harrison and Liam Spencer-Smith alongside Susannah van den Berg, Helena Gullan, Mischa Jardine, Liz Kitchen, Samuel Morgan-Grahame, Sioned Saunders who also feature in the Ensemble.
A Young Company alternates as Dalmatian puppies Button, Lucky, Patch and Spud. Button is played by Rebecca Bennett, Charlie Man-Evans and Harmony Cover-Allicock; Lucky by Darcey Fryer-Bovill, Rhiya Rasalingam and Paul Sarte; Patch by Oscar Cox, Charlie McGonagle and Albie Salter; and Spud by George Clarke, Hadlee Snow and Howard Webb.
101 Dalmatians is created by: Shanaé Chisholm (Casting Assistant), Josie Daxter (Associate Director), Jill Green CDG (Casting Director), James Hassett (Associate Sound Designer), Tash Holway (Associate Choreographer), Barbara Houseman (Voice and Text & Season Associate Director), Howard Hudson (Lighting Designer), Maia Kirkman-Richards (Assistant Puppet Director), Nick Lidster for Autograph (Sound Designer), Katrina Lindsay (Costume Designer), Ingrid Mackinnon (Season Associate: Intimacy Support), Tarek Merchant (Musical Director), Verity Naughton and Nick Hockaday for Verity Naughton Casting (Children’s Casting Directors), Toby Olié (Puppetry Designer and Director), Colin Richmond (Set Designer), Timothy Sheader (Director), Liam Steel (Choreographer and Movement Director), Sarah Travis (Musical Supervisor and Orchestrator), Ella Wahlström Sound Designer (Content) and Nic Wass (Creative Associate).
