Bother that cat!” Finally, after 50 years of delighting readers on the page, Mog leaps off onto the stage, in a show that feels like catnip to the soul and engaged my 4 year old and 1.5 year old throughout the entire thing.
Some children’s book adaptations have a tendency to be a little self-indulgent. To take themselves a little too seriously and to drag a bit too much for the young ones in the audience. Thankfully, The Wardrobe Ensemble adaptation of Mog doesn’t fall under that curse and is a warm celebration of children’s theatre, that stays true to the Mog we know and love, but with colourful chaos and a pacy plot.
We start with the classic, Mog the Forgetful cat, where Mog foils a burglar (although if I’m being picky, she gets a lot of credit for simply miaowing at the window and making the burglar drop his bag…!) and move into Mog and the V.E.T, before ending on Mog’s Bad Thing. Between each story, the seasons change, and at the very end, we move into winter, with no story, but a very large rainbow appears above Mog, and I wonder if perhaps this is a reference to the final Mog story – Goodbye Mog in which the lovable cat passes over the rainbow bridge. Thankfully, this isn’t one of the stories gleefully acted out with songs and dances, but a subtle nod that only parents who’ve read the final book might notice.
The whole cast were energetic and engaging but particular kudos goes first to Georgina Goodchild who captures so much personality in her physicality and nails Mog’s cute but vacant expression.
Secondly, Tom England, who plays Mr Bunce with an electric stage presence and is the bridge between the audience and the action on stage. I could have watched him read the Yellow Pages.
Max Gallagher, the show’s on-stage musical director, is a delightful addition, with keys and trumpet creating an engaging musical score. His car journey radio commentary is fantastic, and his cameo as the burglar was wonderfully camp. Perfectly pitched for a children’s show, although I will say that the moment at the start when he is introduced as the pet shop’s musician does feel a little shoe-horned in to explain his presence.
The energy of the show is consistent without being overwhelming and there is a calming ebb and flow of action, without any boredom. The staging is vivid and creative, and delicious design moments such as the tiger dream, or the moment in the vet’s office where the actors switch between humans and their pets with clever costuming, are done so dynamically that even the adults watching are in awe.
If you want to catch Mog’s adventures, and I would highly recommend it, the show is on until 8th April at the Lowry. https://thelowry.com/whats-on/mog-the-forgetful-cat/
REVIEWERS:
“Brilliant!” – Ruben, 4 years old.
“Cat!” – Indiana, 20 months old.
Codie Wright, 31 years old – ★★★★
Reviewed: 4th April 2023