“Bedknobs & Broomsticks”

Nottingham Theatre Royal

When the three orphaned Rawlins children, Charlie, Carrie and Paul are reluctantly evacuated from wartime London to live with the mysterious Eglantine Price, they have no idea what adventures lie ahead. Upon discovering Eglantine to be a trainee witch, they join forces to search for a secret spell that will defeat the enemy once and for all. Armed with an enchanted bedknob, a bewitched broomstick and a magical flying bed, they encounter surprising new friendships on their journey from Portobello Road to the depths of the beautiful briny sea.

This production took me back to when I was eight years old. This was the age when I was taken to the pictures to see the film. 1971. Tonight I reverted back to an open-mouthed kid again, in awe of the magic before my eyes. The film was truly wondrous and so was this production.

Flying broomsticks, with and without rider, clothing, boots, armour that came to life on stage. A flying bed which lit up, all sorts of magical effects, creating the wonderful magic of theatre. Humans who turned into rabbits and back again in a puff of smoke and glitter, right before my very eyes. It is one thing watching the magic of cinematography when you are eight, but seeing the magic on stage when you are..... well a few decades older is something completely different.

There was wonderful puppetry of all sizes. From glowing fish to a massive lion, the King of Nopeepo, and even a mini Eglantine complete with broomstick. The scene in the underwater ballroom, which replaces the famous football match in the film, was jaw-droppingly beautiful and full of colour.

Dianne Pilkington stars as Miss Eglantine Price, the role originally played by Angela Lansbury in the film, was truly magical. When a role is played by such an actor like Dame Angela Lansbury, she makes it iconic. Diane did not once make me feel that she was in competition with the great Ms Lansbury. Diane Pilkington made this feel like I was watching this story for the first time. She made this role her own without tainting the legacy that had been laid down by its' originator.

Charles Brunton plays Emelius Browne, and again as with Diane Pilkington, I was not forced to make any comparison between Charles and David Tomlinson's version from the film.

In this production the Rawlings children are played by Evie Lightman (Carrie) and Jasper Hawes (Paul), who has been performing since he was just four years old. Making his professional debut as Charles, the thirteen-year-old, is Conor O Hara. Sometimes when kids appear on stage, from stage school, there is an element of the old adage "eyes 'n' teeth", but not with this trio. They made you warm to them, as actors and their situation, as characters, on stage from the off.

These three make a really believable trio of siblings with Charles taking on the father figure after the children lost their parents in the opening scenes. These scenes were quite frightening with the bombing and the house being ripped apart - quite literally. Throughout these scenes and the evacuation process there was no script but you didn't need words to understand the numbed frustration that these three young kids were put through.

A brilliant supporting cast of singers, dancers and puppeteers who most definitely deserve a mention in this production.

The music is a mix of the original songs and new material, which I felt fitted in really well. The new stuff, by Neil Bartram, kept the same feel as the original Sherman Brothers' soundtrack, with its' lovely old cockney charm. I was completely unable to keep my feet still when "Beautiful Briny" started. I was quite literally bobbing along with its' infectious rhythm.

The sound design by Gareth Fry was just right and the lighting design by Simon Wilkinson added to the magic of the production. A delight visually as well as aurally.

The set was one of the best that I have seen in theatre post lockdown and was designed by Jamie Harrison, who was also responsible for the illusions we experienced tonight.

Brilliant costumes all round by Gabriella Slade.

The whole cast richly deserved the standing ovation they received although I had expected a full house ovation. maybe some of the audience had been so mesmerised that they forgot to get to their feet to show their appreciation. Maybe Emelius Browne had put them in a trance!

There is always a fear that such a beloved Disney film could be marred by adding bits to it and removing some scenes and putting it on stage and adding new music, but this is not the case here. It has added to the enjoyment of watching it, well for me at least. It's like finding a 3D version of a Director's cut of one of your favourite films that you have not seen for many years and rediscovering your love for it in a whole new way.

So thank you Michael Harrison, Candice Edmunds and Jamie Harrison for taking me back to the eight-year-old me and the magic of Disney.

“Bedknobs & Broomsticks” is at the Nottingham Theatre Royal until Sunday 10 October.