'101 Dalmatians – The Musical' review — the heartwarming puppets and colourful storytelling will keep children entertained

Read our review of 101 Dalmatians – The Musical, starring Sydnie Christmas as Cruella de Vil, now in performances at the Eventim Apollo to 30 August.

By now 101 Dalmatians is a firm classic. Dodie Smith’s 1956 book has been adapted countless times for stage and screen, with fans falling in love with its doggy characters and timeless magic. There’s a sense of that nostalgia in Bill Buckhurst’s production too, which has been on a UK tour and has now pitched up at the Eventim Apollo for the summer.

The story is much as you’ll remember. Dogs Pongo and Perdi meet in the park, give each other a sniff, and watch their owners Danielle and Tom (or as they say “pets”) awkwardly get to know each other. In no time at all, they’ve fallen head over heels in love with a litter of 15 dalmatian puppies to keep them company. It sounds something like domestic bliss, but, of course, fashion designer Cruella de Vil is never too far away, trying to steal the puppies to skin them for their fur.

Buckhurst’s production is full of cartoonish character and colour. Jimmy Grimes’s puppets are genuinely heartwarming — the dogs have sweet bobbing heads and tiny paws that pad along the stage floor. They’re expertly controlled by the company; not once do you doubt that they’re real dalmatians. It’s a shame, then, that the songs fail to make any real impact. Written by Douglas Hodge, all but the sweet ballad "Take Me Home" blend into one entity.

The children in the audience seem to be having the time of their life; they scream at the appearance of any new animal, and are particularly in awe when a real dalmatian puppy makes a last-minute surprise appearance. But there’s no hiding from the fact that the book by Johnny McKnight is more pantomime than polished musical. The jokes, particularly from Cruella’s hapless nephews Jasper (Aston Merrygold) and Horace (Jeff Brazier), are so cringeworthy, they’re almost painful.

As Cruella de Vil, Britain’s Got Talent winner Sydnie Christmas is so over-the-top she’s practically vibrating with villainy. The whole show is performed at a screeching pitch; I’m surprised my ears are still intact after the final curtain call.

Costumes by Sarah Mercade elevate the production to something visually impressive. Cruella is an animal-print-adorned fever dream, complete with clashing textures, black crocodile knee-high boots, and undeniable fashion flair. Even if the tunes are forgettable, the song "Animal Lover" dresses the stage in fur and feathers, adding a wild, tactile energy. But Danielle and Tom, played by Laura Baldwin and Samuel Thomas, feel like exaggerated caricatures rather than real people.

If you have kids under the age of 14, 101 Dalmatians will keep them entertained. For the rest of us, while the canine charm is undeniable, I can’t help but feel this production is a bit of a dog’s dinner.

101 Dalmatians – The Musical is at the Eventim Apollo to 30 August. Book 101 Dalmatians – The Musical tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk.

Photo credit: 101 Dalmatians – The Musical (Photos by Johan Persson)