Review: James & the Giant Peach
Roald Dahl’s classic tale follows the adventurous, young James and his friends – Miss Spider, Old-Green-Grasshopper, Centipede, Ladybird and Earthworm. Beginning at the end of the story, like all great tales do, James and his friends are living in the giant peach stone in Central Park, New York, but the real story lies in how they got there, all the way from the White Cliffs of Dover.
This production is obviously aimed at a young audience, an audience which is always difficult to keep engrossed for long. Therefore parents will be pleased to know that the performance is just over 90 minutes including an interval. On the night that I saw the production the theatre was packed and the youngsters attention was kept pretty much for the whole of that time which is a major credit to the production company and the actors.
The set is simple but cleverly devised, the scene changes are however somewhat clunky, surprising as this production is a long way into the run.
Overall this is nicely done, fast-paced (meaning little ones don’t get the time to get bored) and judging by the reaction from most of the target audience sitting around me ……. it hits the spot.
Great introduction to the theatre for youngsters and a nice family excursion.
• Ipswich New Wolsey 17th May-21st May. Box Office: 01473 295900
New Wolsey Theatre
Review: Mark Keable, Ipswich24 Magazine