Doctor Dolittle The Musical – New Theatre, Oxford

Vicky Entwistle and Mark Williams in Doctor Dolittle at the New Theatre, Oxford. Picture: Alastair Muir

Doctor Dolittle the Musical continues at the New Theatre, Oxford until 26 January 2019.

Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩

It’s tragic that this beautifully crafted production of Doctor Dolittle The Musical, directed by Christopher Renshaw, cuts short its tour after its current run at the New Theatre Oxford due to poor advance ticket sales at forthcoming venues.

The attention to detail in the authentically designed puppets by Nick Barnes and the actors’ dexterity and puppetry skills (directed by Jimmy Grimes) is on an elevated level of originality to match that of The Lion King and War Horse.

The well-studied movements of the animals including the incarnation of man’s best friend Jip the Dog (brought to life by Jacob Fisher and Richard Vorster), the cheeky swagger of Chee Chee (Tom Norman and Emily Essery give the chimp a character to rival Curious George) and the sturdy reliability of Gub Gub the pig (Emily Ann Potter and Emma Lloyd) all give credence to Doctor Dolittle’s ever increasing menagerie.

The production rises to every challenge including the enormous Great Pink Sea Snail which engulfs the stage while Evan James and Ross Meagrow as the flirtatious Pushmi-Pullyu excel at giving the mythical creature major kerb appeal.

The storybook illustrations that provide the framework for the set (designed by Tom Piper) give the production a child- and dreamlike quality and, whilst they may arguably look amateurish at the beginning of the show, they come into their own as the plot progresses with some unique and surprising manifestations.

Mark Williams is perfectly cast in the title role employing a beguiling preference for his animal friends and a tenacious disdain for the human race. Vicky Entwistle has the challenging task of opening the show with probably the weakest musical number but rises above it as Polynesia, her voice well matched to the voyeuristic parrot’s character and physically assisted by Jane Crawshaw and Ellie Seaton who give flight to the exotic bird.

Brian Capron doubles successfully as kindly explorer Straight Arrow and as Albert Blossom, the circus master who has more than a touch of Victor Hugo’s Thénardier, while Adele Anderson has more credible success with her performance as Lady Bellowes than as Poison Arrow who becomes a caricature of AbFab’s Patsy.

Mollie Melia-Redgrave is delightful as Emma Fairfax but there is no doubt that Patrick Sullivan as Matthew Mugg is the other main star of the show with his cheeky Irish accent, boyish charm and strong vocals.

Producers Music & Lyrics in association with Churchill Theatre Bromley will have wished for an alternative ending for this curtailed tour which, with some refinement, could potentially have seen a West End transfer. Such a shame.

Julie Watterston