Fantastic Mr Fox

For the third time Shake & Stir have raided the library of Roald Dahl and come up with the most clever, imaginative, and eye-popping adaptation of his 1970 children’s book Fantastic Mr Fox. Written for a company of six who comically play multiple roles, the stars of the production are Jon Weber’s cartoon drawings, and Craig Wilkinson’s video projection of them, played out on Josh McIntosh’s triple ramp set.

The synchronisation of the images with what is happening on stage is not only awesome but jaw-droppingly brilliant. Sequences which have Mr Fox and his son Chase madly digging tunnels as they try to escape a tractor are realised with a split-second timing that thrills. It’s theatre-making at the top level.

The simple story finds three dim-witted farmers trying to protect their livestock from the nightly marauding Mr Fox as they set-up a plan to ambush and stop him. Johnny Balbuziente as the son, Chase Fox, leads us into the tale as a narrator and storyteller often stop the plot in a freeze-frame to give the audience a true ‘fact.’ He’s relatable and playful and the kids loved him.

But it’s the three farmers who steal the show, with Leon Cain outstanding in an outrageous fat-suit as Boggis the chicken farmer. An audience delight, he waddled effortlessly to steal laughs. Tim Dashwood’s Bean was delightfully officious with his authoritarian streak, the supposed ‘brains’ of the trio whose schemes always failed to meet their objective, whilst Nelle Lee (unrecognisable) as the goose-pate obsessed Bunce was a knockout, especially when her farts were shown as cartoon bubbles to wild comic effect.

Gemma Willing was a motherly but spunky Mrs Fox, while Nick Skubij, whose marvellous adaptation ticked all the right boxes, was a nimble and speedy Mr Fox. Memorable doubles were Dashwood’s cider-guzzling Rat, Lee’s lovable Badger and a pop trio with both girls being joined by a dragged up (but still in fat-suit) Cain as Mabel, doing a riotous dance routine. It was very funny and absolutely the ‘hit’ of the show.

Jason Glenwright’s lighting and Guy Wesbster’s sound all added to the cartoon style which, overall, was brilliantly realised by director Ross Balbuziente.

Fantastic Mr Fox is a fantastic piece of theatre and at just under an hour the perfect length to hold any child or adults interest. It’s destined for a long stage life.

Peter Pinne         

Photographer: Dylan Evans