Joy Watters doesn't think it's third-time lucky for Dundee Rep's latest Christmas production.
Dundee Rep has firmly nailed its festive show colours to Roald Dahl's mast as this is the third year they have presented a stage adaptation of his work. A huge poster at the box office reveals that in a year's time, it will be Dahl again.
A diet of Dahl may be to some people's taste but this lack of variety in choosing a Christmas show is somewhat limiting. Another negative is that with its scary aspects, The Witches is not a show for all the family as there is a fright factor for wee ones.
It tells of a young orphaned boy who goes to live with his grandma in her native Norway then re-locates to England. Grandma (an assured performance by Irene Macdougall) tells him some scary tales leading into the dangers that witches present to children, most importantly their desire to bump all youngsters off. The witches look like ordinary women in public but at their ease reveal their true nature.
It is not exactly an action-packed show, with a lot of narration and explanation. Director Jemima Levick has not managed to erode the longueurs and introduce some brio and pace.
Our boy hero (an energetic Matthew Forbes with more than a passing resemblance to Tin Tin) determines to fix the witches, but not before he and his chubster pal, Bruno (Stephen Bangs), get turned into mice. Bangs brings a welcome touch of humour to proceedings, chomping his way through all danger.
Puppets are used to convey the boys' transformation into mice dexterously and engagingly. While the colour-blocked costumes of the witches, designed by Jean Chan, introduce a brightness to the show, there is a darkness to the story which is never relieved.
The children of Dundee leave knowing their English counterparts are safe from the clutches of the witches, whether they can share in the feel-good factor is another matter.
Performs at Dundee Rep until December 31.
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