By Ross Brewster
Creative genius, excellent ensemble acting and a heart warming tale; what more could you ask from a night at the theatre?
Around the World in 80 Days, based on the Jules Verne novel, is superb barnstorming Easter holiday entertainment for all ages at Keswick’s Theatre by the Lake.
It is a captivating production, packed full of energy and vitality together with liberal doses of laughter.
For those unfamiliar with the story, stiff upper lip English bachelor, Phileas Fogg, undertakes a seemingly impossible challenge, issued by fellow members of his London club, to gallop round the globe within 80 days.
There were no planes and fast trains in those days. Fogg made his journey by a succession of boats and trains, a sledge and even an elephant.
He’s followed by a blundering detective determined to prove that he is a bank robber, but there’s no way Fogg, played with suitably starchy obsession in his routine by Stefan Adegbola, will be diverted from his determination to win the bet.
Dyfrig Morris is a great counterpoint to the calm certainty transmitted by Fogg. As the inept Inspector Fix he’s invariably just too late on the scene and yet he is the fool you somehow grow to love.
The production is tremendously physical. It’s exhausting to watch, never mind perform. It’s quite a long show, yet it seems to flash by with the mixture of slapstick and pathos. There are simply too many clever elements to list. The eight-strong cast, who make an outstanding team, establish a rapport with the audience as the scenes switch rapidly from Italy to India and Hong Kong to America.
It’s a mesmerising world tour, a race against the clock which has you holding your breath to see if Phileas Fogg completes his task.
Throughout the adventures and misadventures he has his valet Passepartout by his side. Miriam O’Brien is a terrific all rounder with great comedy skills and vitality.
The pace of the production never lapses, but if it did you suspect that O’Brien’s wonderfully mercurial character would soon wind it up again.
Right from the off, where we catch Phileas sleeping upright behind a sheet, to the end of the story where he finds love with Aouda (Saba Shiraz) the woman he rescued from her husband’s funeral pyre in India, there’s always some unexpected little magic moment.
There’s the realistic elephant and the hot air balloon. Now exactly how is Fogg to float off in that? You will have to see the play to find out.
It’s a night of pure theatrical fun. I can’t help thinking what a marvellous Christmas season play it would have been, but for the Easter holidays it’s a show with true lively get up and go for family audiences.
Around The World In 80 Days will keep travelling at the lakeside theatre until April 29.
