Fantastic Mr Fox

Southwick Players' Youth performance of Fantastic Mr Fox was merry, sweet and heart-warming.

Roald Dahl wrote the story about a clever Fox outwitting evil, greedy farmers and this has been adapted into a play by David Wood, with music that matches the different animal families, songs and the rhythmic refrain ‘digga digga dig.’ This actually became an earworm for a few days afterwards – reminding me of the performance and making me smile.

The play was acted by a cast of talented young actors who realistically portrayed particular animal characteristics (moles, rabbits, weasels, fox cubs, rats, badgers, human villagers) with their body language and facial expressions. There are too many stars to name individually but special mention must go to Louis Johnson, fantastic as wily Mr Fox, Luke Fleming who carried the bulk of the narration with badger-like bonhomie and flawless delivery, Chay West as Mrs Fox with a lovely voice and suitably motherly demeanour and Sydney Colburn as Mrs Badger the other narrator, also flawlessly delivered.  Farmers Bunce, Bean and Boggis (Evie-Grace Mott, Freya Sheridan, and Harrison Viinikka) were comically believable as the bumbling bolshy farmers out to get Mr Fox. I also giggled at tipsy rats, Alfie Hill, Ayah Haider and Alfie Redmond and the chatty maid Mabel (Rosa Fleming.)

I loved the songs performed enthusiastically by the entire cast, especially the one led by a lovely duet sung by Mr Fox and Mr Badger – ‘Cider inside her’

The costumes and make up were excellent and the digger costumes a touch of genius.

The set was a raised platform for the above ground area over the fox hole underneath, with ramps either side, a trap door and a tree which fell very dramatically and cleverly after being felled by the diggers on the orders of the farmers. The sound effects for this were crashingly good as was the lighting which created evening or daylight.  I thought the change of farm sign with props was beautifully simple and effective.

A mention must also be made of the programme which gave a sense of the fun to come, including some lovely photographs

A lot of work has gone into this innovative production so congratulations not only to the wonderful cast but to director, Nettie Sheridan, assistant director Debbie Creissen and the accomplished and creative production team.  It was a great night which I thoroughly enjoyed. Thank you.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.