I didn’t know what to expect when I stopped by Surgeon’s Hall yesterday morning, but I definitely wasn’t expecting a full-scale jukebox musical made for kids. Adapted for the stage from her own story by international children’s author Kate O’Hearn and Directed, Choreographed, and Sound Designed by West End alumnus Tom Dywer (who also leads the cast as the titular Blackbird), this 10-strong company put on quite a show.
It all begins with a cute video, showing a dad and daughter dancing their way through a comedy meal, and culminating in the opening of a storybook. Soon enough, that dad has danced onto the stage with his book in hand, ready to tell us all the story.
The tale itself takes the idea of the very hungry caterpillar and develops it into an adventurous fable. Here, our heroic caterpillar is discontent with a life spent munching the same leaves day after day, so when a rambunctious Blackbird swoops in (on a caterpillar hunt), she decides to take a bite out of him.
I’m not aware that the Littlest Hobo, whose theme tune she appropriates throughout, ever bit anyone, but it’s nice to hear that old tune nonetheless.
Cue one of the most abrupt face-turns in musical as the Blackbird, which has just murdered the Caterpillar’s friend Tim before our eyes, first patronises, then allies with her. He will, he promises, fly her to all sorts of creatures, so she can find out if she has a taste for them.
Offering the first glimpse of the musical diversity the show will embrace, the Blackbird has, by this point, introduced himself with Robbie Williams’ ‘Let Me Entertain You’ accompanied a group of squirrels as backing dancers. Now, he and the Caterpillar lean into ‘A Whole New World’ from Disney’s Aladdin.
If this were a show put on by amateurs, the above would probably be a touch cringeworthy, but the quality of both song and dance is first-rate. Expect little ones to cheer for their favourite tunes.
“I didn’t know what to expect when I stopped by Surgeon’s Hall yesterday morning, but I definitely wasn’t expecting a full-scale jukebox musical made for kids.“
Building on this, each time we meet a new animal for the Caterpillar to attempt to eat, each appears with their own extravagantly choreographed song, according to their personalities.
A sensitive Fox gives a sassy version of Aretha Franklin’s ‘Think’ (…about what you’re trying to do to me, geddit?). A stately frog asks the caterpillar to think about her ecological impacts via Michael Jackson’s ‘Earth Song. But, the pick of these musical beats is the cow, who moos her way onto stage like a true theatrical diva before tap dancing through a reworded ‘If I only had a brain’ from the Wizard of Oz. In this case ,it’s ‘spaghetti bolognese’ because that’s what cow’s eat?!
Each meeting is a learning opportunity, the dialogue delivered in rhyme which invariably begins, ‘Caterpillar, Caterpillar…” Once the lessons are complete, Caterpillar and Blackbird may not have diversified their diet, but they have made a firm friendship and learned to value the natural world. How’s that for wholesome?
Honestly every performer in the show should take a bow for putting in turns good enough for a big ticket touring production. Dywer has the West End credentials, and they show, but the rest are from outshone, particularly the Carterpillar, who has a particularly versatile voice. I haven’t managed to come across a cast list, or I’d pick out names.
Gilding this superior performance is some particularly lush costuming – think Cats but diversified. The set is passable, thanks to a little greenery and a digital backdrop, but there’s no time to admire the scenery amidst the continually more impressive set pieces.
If I had one note, it would be that the switch of performer when Caterpillar inevitably becomes a butterfly is a little disconcerting. I appreciate the swapping in of a particularly strong dancer, but the change in chemistry between actors dampens the celebratory feel of the finale.
On the other hand, the ridiculously glam finale set to Rick Springfield’s ‘Life is a Celebration’ written for Fame, is the sort of thing you’d expect from a cast bringing down the house at a pricey night at the theatre. If you needed any more evidence of the West End sensibilities in the director’s chair, they come equipped with a dance-along encore in the shape of Little Mix’s ‘Wings’. You know, the one that goes ‘Spread your wings, my little butterfly’?
So if it’s a genuine musical extravaganza suitable for those 3+, with a lovely story and much better than you could possibly expect production values, get on down to Surgeon’s Hall ASAP!
Show details
Venue: Venue 53: theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall, Nicolson Street, EH8 9DW (Google Maps)
Date(s): Fri 01 Aug to Sat 09 Aug (9 shows)
Time(s): 12:10pm (60 mins)
Age recommendation: 3+
Price: From £15 (concessions available)
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