Joy Watters reviews a production that has 'a sad lack of festive spirit'.
Dundee Rep has again chosen Roald Dahl for its Christmas show following its BFG last year. There is no particular seasonal resonance to either tale, which could be staged at any time of year. More importantly, this year’s production, James and The Giant Peach, is somewhat light on festive spirit. There is no real heart to the piece and it fails to make a connection with children or adults.
It does not help that there is not a lot of substance in the stage adaptation, which results in the action being attenuated just when it should be springing forward, sweeping up the audience with its vigour. Director Jemima Levick’s cast does its best with little to get its teeth into.
James is orphaned and then maltreated by his two horrible aunts in a lengthy sequence which clearly troubled some of the youngsters since ensemble graduate Thomas Cotran so convincingly conveyed James’ abject misery at his mental and physical abuse.
The mood changes as, thanks to a little bit of magic, a giant peach appears at the home of James’ aunts. The fruit is inhabited by a clutch of human-sized insects who befriend James. Packed into the giant peach, James leads his new chums on a cross Atlantic journey.
The main problem is that it fails to involve the audience, their hearts or minds, or to show clearly how much better James’ life has become when the Giant Peach hits the Big Apple. The only point when there was a genuine connection between stage and audience was when bubbles descended from the roof to usher in a game of giant peach ball with cast and crowd.
Jon Beales’ music lifted spirits as well but, overall, there was a sad lack of festive spirit.
Runs at Dundee Rep until December 31.
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