The BFG

Published Thursday 15 November 2007 at 11:35 by Nick Smurthwaite

The richness and imagination of Roald Dahl’s stories provide tough challenges for those attempting to bring them to the stage.

You might imagine the BFG would make almost impossible demands of the Polka’s design and costume budget. But kids’ theatre veteran David Wood, who first adapted the book 17 years ago, opts for a low-key staging that puts more stress on the characters and the mangled “jumbly” language spoken by the BFG.

Wood solves the size issue - the story hinges on the relationship between the 15ft giant and Sophie, an orphan he abducts on his nocturnal rounds - by representing Sophie as a puppet, deftly operated and voiced by Susan Harrison.

The four other giants, not so friendly, who occupy Giant Country pose a far greater threat to Sophie’s safety. Here, they achieve a satisfying balance of scariness and silliness, especially when they venture menacingly into the audience in order to single out some tasty “chiddlers”.

Designer Keith Baker and his mask-makers have done a terrific job of kitting them out.

The BFG is played by the deaf actor Tim Barlow, a good approximation of Quentin Blake’s original drawing from the book. He appears to struggle a little with the complexities of Dahl’s jumbly-speak, which has to be spoken clearly and confidently for the conceit to work.

The pace of Roman Stefanski’s production could certainly do with some speeding up - the first half seemed painfully pedestrian.

What enlivens the proceedings hugely is the incidental music of Julian Butler. It is a pity the Polka didn’t commission him to write some songs for a story that would lend itself rather well to musical adaptation.