Musical adaptation of 101 Dalmatians feels like a missed opportunity – review
Zinnie Harris’ new stage adaptation of the classic Dodie Smith novel, with music and lyrics by Douglas Hodge and book by Johnny McKnight, is a show with a lot of potential.
Originally expected to debut in summer 2020 but delayed two years due to Covid, it’s now on in the coveted prime slot of the Open Air Theatre’s summer season.
It stars the excellent Kate Fleetwood as the infamous Cruella De Vil and is packed full of puppetry – it has all the ingredients for a perfect summer’s evening in the park.
Sadly it doesn’t live up to expectations. Given the rich source material, we were expecting something far more entertaining and exciting – much of the music is quite forgettable, the lyrics are often a tad juvenile, the book is a bit bland, and the choreography is generally fairly simple.
