TALENTED CAST, CREW WORK MAGIC - OTAGO DAILY TIMES

James and the Giant Peach
Reviewed by Nigel Benson
Friday August 8, 2008

THERE’S magic happening at the Fortune Theatre. The Roald Dahl classic James and the Giant Peach is a wonderful production which wil captivate young and old alike.

John McGlashan College pupil Hadley Taylor is a very convincing James, performing with an acting intelligence beyond his 16 years.

Jodie Bate, Melanie Inglis, Danny Still, Kris Bate, David Goldthorpe and Mark Neilson (who is priceless in a variety of cameo roles) should also take a bow for bringing a bewildering array of colourful insects and other characters to life.

The group I was with each had their own favourite insect. (I liked the earthworm, played by David Goldthorpe).

The special thing about this show is that it appeals on so many levels.

While James and the Giant Peach is aimed at young audiences, it had adults laughing all the way through – although not always at the same things as the children.

The set, by Fortune head designer Peter King, is simply magical, as a peach grows before your eyes to become the size of a whale.

The story would often set up a scene which seemed impossible to enact, only to be imaginatively and unexpectedly realised.

Like, how do you show hundreds of seagulls carrying a giant peach to New York?

Another highlight was the underwater scene, which had the audience literally gasping.

There is a lot of lovely interaction between cast and audience, with birds and an aeroplane flying out over the audience, a giant beach ball bouncing around and even a television news crew interviewing members of the audience.

Director Laura Cooney calls these 'surprisings’ and there were ‘surprisings’ coming from all corners of the theatre.

The costumes by Maryanne Wright Smyth were also a joy. The insects in particular, were clever and very funny.

At the premiere of James and the Giant Peach on Friday night, several children were so entranced they wandered up and leaned on the edge of the stage for a closer look.

The cast also grinned throughout and looked as if they were having just as much fun as the audience.

That’s the magic of Roald Dahl. And live theatre.

This reviewer’s all-ages play of the year is on at the Fortune Theatre until August 30.

FANTASTICAL MAGIC AND CHARM

James and the Giant Peach
By Roal Dahl
Adapted by David Wood
Composer: Matt Baker
Directed by Laura Cooney

at Fortune Theatre, Dunedin
Until 30 Aug 2008

Reviewed by Terry MacTavish, 11 Aug 2008

"Set young imaginations alight with the magic of theatre!" the Fortune promises, and indeed delivers, with this, its third Roald Dahl adaptation. On opening night it was snowing outside, but nothing could be warmer than the atmosphere inside the theatre, the auditorium humming with excited children clambering across the seats to make new friends, and the stage bubbling with marvellous fantasy characters in gorgeous costumes, while the fabulous giant peach positively glows.

Experienced director Laura Cooney was responsible for last year's The Twits and many of the actors and backstage crew were also involved, which may partly explain the joyous confidence of this polished production...

To read the rest of the review visit http://www.theatreview.org.nz/reviews/review.php?id=1618

Live theatre draws curtain on digital entertainment

By Bruce Munroe

The Fortune Theatre’s production of James and the Giant Peach shows good theatre can hold its own against other entertainment. Taking my youngest boys, aged seven and nine to Sunday’s Matinee did not start well. They had read the book and seen the movie they said. A recent musical theatre outing had not been an enjoyable experience they reminded. They would rather stay at home and play video games.
The first positive came as we were still traveling in. Looking at the tickets the nine–year-old exclaimed. “The Fortune Theatre? You didn’t tell me we were going to the Fortune. They do the best plays.” Whether we would have anything to eat was still high on the agenda, however, as we sat waiting for the play to begin.
The lights dimmed and for the next 40 minutes we disappeared into a colourful world of adventure, laughter and oversized bugs as the talented cast brought Roald Dahl’s modern classic to life.
Intermission provided an opportunity for a brief reality check. Were they enjoying it?m “Yes,” one said. “It’s good,” said the other. James and the rest of the crew ably carried the audience through the second half to a happy ending in New York’s Central Park.
Show over, my youngest said he liked the earthworm, drinking in the rain. His brother admired the seagulls soaring across the ceiling. I was pleased the thrill of skilful live performance had worked its magic again.
James and the Giant Peach continues until August 30.