By Graham Hiley.
The BFG at Chichester Festival Theatre is not just splendiferous, it is extraordinumptious!
Roald Dahl’s beloved classic – with its unique gobblefunk langwitch – has been brilliantly brought to life in fantastic fashion.
Magical and mesmerising, it tells the story of Sophie who is kidnapped by a Big Friendly Giant. The pair team up to thwart Bloodbottler (Richard Riddell) and his cronies who have been gobbling up orphans.
Adapted for the stage by Tom Wells and directed by Daniel Evans, this heart-warming play will delight not just the chidlers but the human beans who accompany them.
Any initial reluctance or scepticism on the part of the parents instantly evaporates thanks to the stunning staging which in many ways is the star of the show.
It is a totally immersive experience as the audience is drawn into the world of the Big Friendly Giant by the breath-taking backdrop with its powerful projections aided by the dramatic lighting.
And then come the puppets, which are utterly convincing as they enable quickfire changes of pace and perspective especially between the two main characters.
Martha Bailey Vine is superb as Sophie. It is such a demanding role that it is hard to believe she is only 12 as for almost the entire show she is either on stage or voicing the marionette version of herself. It is an incredibly mature performance as she delivers her lines with impeccable intonation and terrific timing.
Similarly, John Leader is brilliant as the BFG interacting with the miniature version of Sophie and then lending his voice to the giant puppet controlled by Ben Thompson, Shaun McCourt, Elisa de Grey and Onioluwa Taiwo.
Such is the skill of Toby Olié’s puppeteers that it is easy to forget the figures are not real as they manage to express real emotion especially towards the end when the pair enlist the help of the Queen, perfectly played by Helena Lymbery.
As with many of Roald Dahl’s stories, there is a dark edge to the tale which could be scary for some children. The production is recommended for those aged eight and up, though it would work for younger chidlers – as long as they are familiar with the book.
The clever script inserts much-needed light relief mostly through the comedic duo of Captain Smith and Captain Frith hilariously portrayed by Philip Labey and Luke Sumner respectively.
And of course there is the obligatory farting finale – or whizzpopping as it called by the giant who gets his words squiff-squiddled around!
Like so many previous new productions by CFT, the BFG is surely destined for a West End transfer – IMHO. Produced in conjunction with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Singapore Repertory Theatre, this inventive and engaging show is huge in every way.
The BFG is Brilliant, Funny, Go see it!
The BFG runs at Chichester Festival Theatre until April 11. cft.org.uk/events/the-bfg
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