Review: TOYS a new musical

Toys are as ancient as human civilisations, inspiring play and imagination in children the world over, and this Christmas a brand new musical called TOYS graces the stage at the Pump House Theatre in Watford. Directed by Chris Wheeler, with music by Phil Edwards and Ben Dermer and lyrics by Ben Dermer and Paul Morrissey, TOYS is the story of a young girl called Victoria who has to come to terms with the tragic loss of her mother. As she becomes trapped in her grief and sadness she also loses her sense of play. Her toys are packed away in old cardboard boxes and end up lost and forgotten in the attic until her father digs them out and places her once beloved teddy bear on her bed. The teddy transports her to Ludus, the world of play, and through a series of charming encounters with her neglected toys she comes to rediscover the joy of play, and the importance of living life with an open heart.

 

Victoria, played by Mille Robins, navigates the challenges of her part well, moving swiftly and convincingly between the cool insularity of someone in emotional pain, and the unburdened glee of a child at play. Many of the best comic moments comes from Tomas Aleman as Joe, a toy solider, whose unfettered military masculinity feels out of place in the rather soft-edged world of Ludus, primarily populated by three very feminine dolls. Dolly (Clair Gleave) is the prim and proper head girl, keen to follow the rules and ensure others do too. Lily (Jasmine Hackett) is the kind-hearted Miss Popular, resplendent in hot pink, while Brandi (Shyanne Barnes) is the rebel, keen to follow her own path and unafraid to be a little ‘Insensitive’. It was amusing to see the three dolls move in a stilted and jilted fashion to reflect their plastic limitations, and given that they’re very deliberately constructed as synchronised chorus, I enjoyed how well they’d each been characterised and delineated to have a separate sense of individuality.

 

Mikel Sylvanus played the Dad/ Captain while the mother character, played by Davina Manuel-Mokwenye, doubled as the musical’s sinister villain Hera, a resentful witch-like figure who wanted to free the toys from the tyranny of their child-owner’s playful whims and take control over their own actions through electrification. She had several of the most poignant and powerful vocal moments and delivered them with aplomb. Particularly impressive was Santino Zapico who not only brought the teddy bear alive with great puppetry but as Stinky Lomax delivered the stand out number ‘Power Up’, a sharp and modern pop classic with voice distortion, angular choreography and mesmerisingly fast paced lyrics.

 

The stage is immediately intriguing, with pyramid towers of brown cardboard boxes stacked in every corner and ladders soaring heavenward. In our age of internet shopping, these boxes are a familiar sight, promising a hidden trove of gifts and stories to be revealed. Although the story is a bit challenging to follow and there is lots of exposition to digest, there’s also lots of heart and thoughtful life lessons about the value of toys as therapeutic tools as well as playthings. The story is set at Christmas, and Watford is lucky to have this extra opportunity alongside the fabulous Palace Theatre panto Aladdin to revel in some seasonal theatrical magic.

Tickets available here.

Plus my What's On Watford podcast interview with director Chris Wheeler is available here.

Review: Aladdin

This year’s Watford Palace Theatre panto is perennial favourite Aladdin. Transporting us from leafy Hertfordshire to the sweeping vista of our Chinese twin town Wat-a-ford, the evening proves to be a magical treat for all the family. Sticking fairly faithfully to the well-loved tale of a penniless boy who dreams of a life beyond his mother’s laundry business, the script gleefully adds more than a handful of unexpected twists and characters, not least a surprisingly articulate duck, a beat-boxing blue monkey and a startlingly well-read frog!

 

Louis Gaudencio gives us a cheeky, diamond in the rough Aladdin who is as happy dancing by himself in the corner of the imperial garden as he is helping his mum tackle the mountains of unappealing laundry. He shines when he’s able to deliver a little romance, such as when he whisks Princess Perfect Rose, played by a confident Diya Sohi, away on their magic carpet ride. Terence Frisch returns as Watford’s favourite dame to play the indomitable Widow Twanky. His frequent costume changes are a delight, and occasionally a concern (I shall never see belly dancers the same way again), while his Christmas cracker style gags and puns were delivered with quick fire pace.

 

John Henry Falle was brilliant as dastardly villain Abanazer, building a wickedly witty rapport with the audience from their first hiss and boo. Gigi Zahir doubled up as both Emperor and Genie, nicely differentiating the two roles but really shining as the camp as Christmas genie, voguing his way through some impressive dance numbers.

 

But the star of the night has to be the hyperactive blue monkey Wishee Washee, played with boundless energy and enthusiasm by the wonderful Kate Donnachie. Upbeat and optimistic even at the story’s points of peril, the whole audience was charmed by this cheerful chimp and the younger members of the audience will be beat-boxing and funky-monkeying for many days to come. I was lucky enough to bring my 5 year old nephew along and he was engrossed throughout, but when I asked him about his favourite bit, it was all about the monkey!

 

There was lots of interaction with the audience beyond the usual ‘oh no it isn’t’ and ‘he’s behind you’, the highlight being a hilarious re-imagining of The Twelve Days of Christmas featuring oodles of local references and two super-soakers! With colourful costumes, a fast paced script and a funky pop song soundtrack, Aladdin is a festive winner.

Tickets available here.