Review of 101 Dalmatians The Musical at Norwich Theatre Royal: Fun family production starring Steps’ Faye Tozer

101 Dalmatians - Theatre Royal, Norwich

What a spot on show - a fizzy, fun, family production that is all about puppies - what’s not to love?!

Faye Tozer from the 1990s band Steps dominates as the evil fashionista Cruella De Vil who loves Dalmatians - for all the wrong reasons.

She plans to make a coat from their beautiful fur! Faye gets all the great songs and belts them out with plenty of vigour whilst wearing various extravagant animal print outfits.

Her two sidekicks, nephews Casper (Charles Brunton) and Jasper (Danny Hendrix), provide the slapstick comedy as they try to steal various puppies, while young lovebirds Danielle (Jessie Elland) and Tom (Samuel Thomas) are the proud Dalmatian owners who, in true Disney fashion, defeat the baddies and live happily ever after.

Don’t expect dozens and dozens of live puppies on stage (could you imagine the chaos) but rather the cast use specially designed puppets to great effect.

This is a tail-waggingly great show, supported by a live band, with bouncy songs and there’s a lovely twist when a band of streetwise cats, surely the dogs’ arch enemies, help save the day. Simply paw-fect!

The show continues until Saturday.

Visit www.norwichtheatre.org

Review by Sarah Hardy