We round up the reviews for Sally Cookson’s production now playing at the Bridge Theatre.
Exeunt Magazine: “It’s the delight in being able to see the effort which goes into heaving a glorious vision to its feet, the collective power of an ensemble at work. At its best, watching it is akin to tucking into a hearty stew sopped up with crusty bread, rather than a chilly, Michelin star tasting menu with a sparkler stuck on top.”
The Guardian: ★★★★ “Cookson, designer Rae Smith and movement director Dan Canham create an engrossing spectacle.”
The Telegraph: ★★★★ “What with the Palladium’s gargantuan panto, Neil Gaiman’s The Ocean at the End of the Lane at the National and A Christmas Carol at the Old Vic, to name just three big contending shows, the competition in the capital for the heavily squeezed and taxed parental purse is general election-level fierce.”
Time Out: ★★★★ “Pretty much everything in the book is retained, and if the first half slightly struggles to find a coherent tone to process it all, in the second half it arrives at its destination – a wilderness of pure imagination, unshackled, ecstatic and pagan.”
Evening Standard: ★★★ “The show works best in carnival mode, when the huge Aslan puppet and his cadaverous rivals do battle, when giant flowers are passed down the auditorium for an exuberant dance routine.”
The Stage: ★★★★ “While the production is a little on the long side and some of the songs feel superfluous (though this is definitely not the case with the delightful tap-dancing Santa sequence), Cookson’s staging is infused with adventurous spirit and studded with moments of magic.”
The Upcoming: ★★★★ “Almost every element of Narnia is anthropomorphised by the ensemble, bringing to life CS Lewis’s land of constant vigilance and warring factions.”
London Box Office: ★★★★ “This production is a delightful visual feast and is perfectly paced, providing the ideal festive treat for families.”
Broadway World: ★★★★ “In spite of the pacing issues and tonal inconsistencies, it’s a testimony to Rae Smith’s design and the production quality of the entire show that the children in the audience seemed completely enraptured. Just being in the theatre is a magical event.”
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe will play at the Bridge Theatre until 2 February 2020.
