101 Dalmatians - Regent’s Park OAT / Tour

Having gone in with not-so-great expectations I found myself thinking this is a solid 3 star production.

To me, it felt very much like an "out of town tryout" to the scale you used to see in America when they'd try Boston, San Diego Globe etc. with a full production knowing things would change later. In that instance I thought the direction was great, the score was between nice and good songs, some ideas worked and some did not.

I loved the puppetry in the teaser photos and I thought they were great in person too, did think Pongo (? The male dog) had been cast quite young compared to Purdy, and from recollection Cruella only had one scene with Dom and Danielle which if any bookwriter had a pass over would pick up as very odd and just gave Cruella such a disconnect.

Similar to Charlie... Chocolate Factory: there isnt actually much plot (watched the movies in 2020 lockdown and they're so short and just have loads of filler) so there are some moments that are clearly there to just... pad it out a smidge.

Loved end of act one, a couple other songs I thought were really well done, tight, smart, funny, purposeful. Opener of act two was great but why were they all sneezing?

Someone at RPOAT must have a pup kink, between the dogs in Legally Blonde and the black dogs in act two with what i can only describe as pup play fetish wear... no judgement!!

clearly a big family pleaser based on the title, a near sold out matinee, but its the summer holidays and its something to do, and to be fair to them it was a very nice show. Again solid 3*. Would be more than happy for it to be refined, I'd say about 60% worked and that 40% is between minor tweaks and total revamp.

I’m here right now and I’m loving it.

It’s intermission.

It’s not perfect but it’s got great potential.

Well that was fun!

Looking around it was a full house.

I was there grinning throughout and wearing my Disney 101 Dalmatians T-shirt- if I can't wear it there, where can I, eh?

The set was great too, with the 0 in the 101 being a red dog collar.

The fact that the letter in the Dalmations could be turned around to form the flat, or Cruellea's lair was very clever.

It's evident how much thought has gone into this production.

(If truth be told) I am bot a huge fan of actor musicians on stage but for this it worked. This is truly an ensemble show.

I LOVED the puppets. So clever! The Shar Pei was an unexpected surprise. I also LOVED the pink tap-dancing poodle- she was a highlight!

Cruella- very good but she sounded like she has come off the set of Eastenders! Perhaps bit more villainous! But the reaction when she drank the poison was very clever.

I also like the Act 1 Finale with Cruella crowned with the long flowing white mink with the spots.

The decision to bring on an actual Dalmation puppy in the finale was inspired. There was an audible gasp throughout the audience.

Hopefully with a bit of tightening this will be given another life, another chance to shine. Maybe even a cast recording?

Selling a ticket for tonight on the noticeboard

If you do go, as I said in my review, the tap-dancing pink poodle in the second act is a highlight!

It takes a wee while to find it's pace (but then so does most Rogers&Hamerstein's) but in the end I thought it was fab. Loved Kate Fleetwood, she is amazing in this killer role.

The updating worked really well, some people really will do everything to find fame. With its breaking the 4th wall, topical references and humour on child and adult levels it really has a lovley nod to panto dotted throughout.

I would very happily watch this again.

Saw this last week, loved it! Kate was fab in character, two nephews bounced off each other v well (one was understudy, playing role for first time, v funny). Puppets excellent, and in that heat! Some may have seen Emma Lucia (Perdi voice) as the lead in Once in 2020 before Covid stopped the show: that voice - beautiful!

1x free ticket still available on noticeboard for coming Thursday matinee 2:15pm.

Five songs available to listen to here: openairtheatre.com/production/101-dalmatians

I couldn't access on my phone but could access on laptop.

By this afternoon the weather will be perfect for a Regent's Park matinee...not sunny, but dry and warm.

Didn’t really get into this tonight. Had a very good and heavily discounted ticket. The lower levels were pretty full.

Think it was sensible to update the context but this wasn’t terribly witty and there were children around who were bored stiff. Didn’t help that there some inaudible songs (not that the plot was difficult to follow).

I agree with others that there was more charm to the second half (along with more plot holes). Strongest song was a version of Any Old Iron.

Glad I saw this, but can’t imagine It having much more of a life in its present form.

Matinee was cancelled anyway 🤪