By Michelle Rawlins
From start to finish, this latest magical adaptation of the much-loved Disney classic of Bedknobs and Broomsticks was an enchanting and bewitching spectacular.
The new stage musical, superbly directed by Candice Edmunds, offers spellbinding wizardry, fantastical fun and enthralling special effects, perfectly mixed together with a good dose of ingenious illusions from Jamie Harrison and excellent eye-catching puppetry, conjured up by Kenneth Macleod.
As the original 1971 Walt Disney film, adapted from Mary Norton’s books, dictates, the three Rawlins children are left orphans after their parents are cruelly killed during the London Blitz of World War Two. There are reluctantly evacuated to live with the mysterious wannabe witch, Eglantine Price, in the village of Pepperinge Eye.
After some persuasion – in a tale of good must conquer evil – she ropes in the hesitant Charlie, an intrigued Carrie and a more easily persuaded Paul, to track down a secret spell, sending them on a fantastical journey of adventure.
This is the point when the script moves swiftly on from the terror-like start, where fighter planes hovered over the skies and bombs exploded, to one of dazzling wonder, in a bid to restore some much needed love and happiness back into the world.
The fun begins with a bewitching broomstick, which has a highly amusing life of its own. Then there’s the magnificent and spellbinding flying bed, which, while it’s no Aladdin’s flying carpet, still allows younger members of the audience to believe in the unbelievable, with its shimmering technicolour and ability to soar into the sky.
And, of course, the bedknob turns pink when you twist it. Why wouldn’t it? In the words of my five-year-old daughter: ‘Magic really does exist, doesn’t it?’ And isn’t that the whole point of this wondrous story?
This large-scale production has a cast to match, including the outstanding Dianne Pilkington as Eglantine, who as well as bedazzling her new charges with her magical skills (which involve turning humans into rabbits) sings beautifully. Charles Brunton as the supposedly chief wizard, Emelius Browne, turns out to be a bumbling yet ultimately lovable trickster.
The mesmerising musical interludes include original songs from the Sherman Brothers and some catchy and playful numbers from Neil Bartram, in particular a fun-filled and colourful knees-up ‘Portobello Road’ and ‘The Beautiful Briny’, which are key ingredients in bringing the show to life.
If you are looking for a theatre production for the whole family, from grandparents to toddlers, dads to teenagers, this wondrous big-hearted show ticks most of the boxes, with enough pizzazz and fun-filled frolics, to leave you feeling as though you have been sprinkled with a generous dose of fairy dust and a large injection of happiness. What’s not to love?
Touring until May 1 2022
For tickets and dates visit: www.bedknobsonstage.com