Dr Dolittle Jr

Dr Dolittle Jr .... a stage musical presented by Rainhill Musical Theatre Youth Group at Rainhill Village Hall, Dane Court, Rainhill on Friday 8th April, 2022.

Doctor Dolittle is a musical based on a book written the English Playwright, Composer and Lyrist Leslie Bricusse and is based on the Doctor Dolittle stories written by Hugh Lofting and the Twentieth Century Fox Film of the same name starring Eddie Murphy. It tells the classic tale of a wacky, but kind, doctor who can talk to animals. We are taken on a journey from the small English village of Puddleby-on-the-Marsh to the far corners of the world. Dolittle attempts to help a seal named Sophie, he is wrongly accused of murder and stands trial before General Bellowes. Once pronounced innocent, Dolittle is free to continue his search for the Great Pink Sea Snail – the oldest and wisest of the creatures on earth!

I have just been looking back through my old records and it was 15th November 2019 that I last saw Rainhill Musical Theatre Companies Youth Group on stage, when they performed ‘Cats’.  They had already done a concert in April that year ‘Don’t Stop Be’gleeving’… both of which were great productions! ‘Cats’ provided Rainhill MTC with a ‘winner’ at our District Awards night that year, with Rhianna McEwan winning my District Reps Award for her portrayal of Grizabella. Much has changed since then as we all know, but what has not changed, is the smiles and obvious enjoyment that the young people from Rainhill were having the night I attended Dr Dolittle! 

Like many amateur groups, this musical had been 'waiting in the wings' for a long time due to the pandemic. So, its congratulations to all at Rainhill MTC and to Tom Cain (Director) and Kirsty Higgins (Choreographer) both doing their first show with Rainhill, Wayne Oakes (Musical Director) and Claire Jones (Youth Lead) for keeping this show alive and for giving all those young people the chance to, once again, be on stage in front of a live audience and to do what they obviously love… perform!     

An ’open’ pre-set stage greeted us as we reached our seats… Rainhill Village Hall was about half full, but the ‘buzz’ and ‘anticipation’ from the audience was so tangible, you could just tell that those present were just so glad to be back watching live theatre.

The Cast… seven principals and eight chorus members made up the cast of 15. From first note to last, it was obvious that this young cast were loving every minute of being back on stage in front of a live audience! Not only were they having fun, they were working together as a team, supporting and encouraging each other and giving of their best…what more can you ask or want!  I just love watching young people on stage, this is when you know that being part of an amateur theatre company is so much more than just being on stage!  When you see young people grow, develop skills and gain confidence that will not only help them on stage, but help them further their future lives, it really is a privilege… be proud Rainhill MTC for affording these young people that chance!

Ensemble… Marina Forshaw played ‘Jip the Dog’ and ‘Rufus the Dog’; Emily Greenough played ‘Toggle the Horse’, the much sort after ‘Great Pink Sea Snail’, a ‘Villager’ and one of the ‘Circus Folk’; Matilda Wetton played ‘Gertie Blossom’, a ‘Villager’ and the ‘Chief Warrior’; Darcy Trigwell, played ‘Sophie the Seal’, ‘Mavis’, a ‘Villager’, and a ‘Warrior’; Mandy Roberts played ‘Shelia the Fox’, ‘Berta’, a ‘Villager’ and a ‘Warrior’. Celine Shaw played ‘Dab Dab the Duck’, ‘Vladamir’, a ‘Villager’ and a ‘Warrior’; Alfie Shaw played ‘Chee Chee the Monkey’, the ‘Bailiff’, a ‘Villager’, one of the ‘Circus Folk’ and a ‘Warrior’ and finally Leanne McCartney played the great ‘Pushmi Pullyu Llama’ (loved this characterisation, great costume… Leanne acted the character out ever so well, be proud young lady), she also played a ‘Villager’ and a ‘Warrior’

Principals… Aaron Savage took the lead role ‘Doctor John Dolittle’.  I remember seeing Aaron play ‘Jellyorium’ and ‘Buster Jones’ in Cats with Rainhill in 2019. Aaron did really well then and he did another good job this time, well done young man. Ella Andrews took the role of ‘Tommy Stubbins’ a friend and assistant to Doctor Dolittle. Ella played this role well, good characterisation with good mannerisms… well done Ella. Millie Sutton took on the role of Albert Blossom a pompous circus owner and did a really good job.  Millie was another that I had seen in ‘Cats’ as Alonzo’. She also took part in ‘Don’t stop Be’glee’ving’ where she knocked a Burno Mar’s song… ‘Count on Me’… out the park… well done Millie!  Liam Spencer another I had seen in Cat’s, when he played ‘Jennyanydots’ and McCavity’. He had two roles in this production… ‘General Bellowes’, a very posh land owner who was the magistrate at the local court in Puddleby-on-the Marsh and ‘Straight Arrow’… Dolittle's colleague who is the leader of Sea Star Island. Liam, made these two parts his own, good characterisation of both, good mannerisms and a good singing voice, well done young man!  Maisie Riley, another who I had seen in Cat’s playing Rumpleteaser’. In this production she took on the role of the short-tempered niece of General Bellowes … Emma Fairfax. Started a little nervous I felt, but as the show progressed so did her confidence and her stage presence resulting in the creation of a great character! Great singing voice… good job Maisie, well done!  Eden Brennan did a wonderful job in her portrayal of ‘Madeline Mugg’ a good friend to Dolittle and was up there in contention for ‘Show Stealer’. Great stage presence, good characterisation, good ‘Irish accent’ and a great singing voice. Worked well with all the cast, be proud, young lady, job well done!  But the ‘Show Stealer’ for me was Poppy Trigwell who took on the role of ‘Polynesia’ the ‘African Grey Parrot, who teaches Dr Dolittle the art of speaking with animals. I first saw Poppy on stage when she was eight years old, she ‘stole’ the ‘Don’t stop Be’glee’ving’ concert with her rendition of ‘Your Lips Keep Moving’ and her amazing dance routine to ‘Crazy I Love’. She also performed in Cats where she took on the role of ‘Victoria’.  In my review for ‘Don’t stop Be’glee’ving’ I suggested that Poppy never stopped smiling… well that smile is still there in abundance, along with stage presence, confidence and the ability to create a great character… be ever so proud young lady! 

The Set and Staging were in the capable hands of Keith Trigwell (Stage Manager). We did have an issue or two with the ‘coming in and going out of a curtain’ but overall things worked well – congrats to Keith and his team… Chris Gibb, Pip Bradshaw, Bryan Dargie-Lynch, Claire Jones, Ruth Gibb, Annie Topping and Julie Robinson.  Lighting was simple but effective and in the safe hands of Les Dagnall. Sound is always a challenge here at Rainhill, taking up that challenge was Sam Heyes. We did have a few wobbly moments, but nothing that majorly detracted from the overall performance and I do know that Rainhill are continually trying to address this challenge!  Costumes and Props were colourful and appropriate for the production, congrats to Pip Bradshaw, Ruth Gibb, Clare Jones, Karen Woods, Julie Robinson, Bet Davies and the Cast.   Safeguarding /Chaperones… when staging any youth show the law requires that children are rightly safeguarded… Anita Shaw and her team provided that safety and should be congratulated for their time and effort in ensuring these young people can perform and are safe whilst doing so… well done one and all.

Once again, can I thank the Committee and Members at Rainhill Musical Theatre Company for inviting my wife and I, we thoroughly enjoyed the show and are already looking forward to seeing you all again soon!

Jim Briscoe
NODA North West
Regional Rep District 6

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