The Lowry, Manchester – until 7 January 2018. Reviewed by Julie Noller
5*****
I was really looking forward to this performance of the well known story from all our childhoods, except my sons apparently. I was half expecting to see a lion on stage (for those old enough to remember the 1980’s cartoon) claiming to be Phileas Fogg however I felt it was time to change that preconception and challenge it completely.
Over a hundred years earlier, in 1873, Jules Vernes epic adventure story was published. A story about honour amongst gentlemen and a certain wager of £20, 000 – which would see him and his newly employed French valet Passepartout, attempt to circumnavigate the world in just 80 days. By today’s standard 80 days would be a walk in the park. But this story is set in the days of newly fashioned steamer boats and even trains were a rarity. Britain had an Empire that covered many parts of the world, Victoria was Empress of India. To be an Englishman meant everything, a gentleman didn’t work for a living he acquired and amassed his fortune. Phileas Fogg portrayed by Andrew Pollard is quintessentially an English gentleman, never rude by nature yet wholeheartedly reserved. He has a precise timetable each day runs by, after a day gambling at the gentlemen only Reform Club, playing and very often winning the wager with a game of whist. He returns home and is in bed within two minutes exactly. His tea must be the exact temperature and when this fails to be so, he requires a new valet. In today’s society he would be singled out, quite possibly looked upon as having additional needs. Yet then it was the expected normality of being an Englishman, keeping a stiff upper lip and remaining emotionless. He is calm, unfaltering. Each risk is weighed up with mathematical precision. Yet as the story grows we see a different side to his character, a risk taker perhaps? Indeed why else would he risk his fortune on a wager that could see him left destitute. The honour of an Englishman perhaps?
He is quick to aid those less fortunate than himself. Namely his love interest and possibly the only strong main female character. Mrs Aouda played by Kirsten Foster. She brings a sense of protectiveness out in the other characters, adds a calming influence, brings humanity to a somewhat robotic Phileas, after they rescue her from a fate which would lead to her death. Dennis Herdman is the haphazard Inspector Fix of Scotland Yard. Stationed at the outpost port of Suez, he sees a newspaper report about the wager of Phileas Fogg and draws his very own conclusion that he must be the infamous Bank of England robber. He is constantly trying to delay our hero’s journey by apprehending him on British soil, in the days of colonial rule this soil was vast, quite often with disastrous results. He is the only person who believes his own story. The character everyone loves is Passeportout, a lovable French man of many talents – tightrope walker, performer, ukulele player – lets not forget his mini stand up routine at the beginning of Act II. He has the audience eating out of the palm of his hand. The only disapointment I felt anyone have is that he didn’t talk directly to them but chose poor Martin the BT Engineer. Passeportout also has to suffer the indignity of constantly sighing and trying to correct the abysmal attempts to say his name, Parsnip soup amongst others. This becomes an essential part of the play and is delivered everytime with brilliant timing and is guarented to have the audience laughing.
I took my 13 year old son, there were a lot of children in the audience watching both young and old. This may be Jules Verne’s story but this version is fresh, energetic and imaginative. It packs in the slapstick humour, had us all giggling and guffawing. The fight scenes were amazing to watch, the skill and timing adding in the sound effects had me enthralled from start to finish. The inclusion of members of the audience is genius, made all the funnier when they were left on stage, for a prolonged length of time , wondering if they can sneak back to their seats. The set is simple yet you can watch the story being created in front of your eyes, allowing your imagine to run riot if you desired. Amazing what you can do with some boxes, a few railings, a table and chairs. Its extremely clever and produced on a small budget but that’s what makes it so lovable.
The humour manages to cross the age divides, my son laughed from start to finish and loved it, I do believe he would watch it again. I heard a young lady behind me ask her Dad ‘was he in Mr Bean’ for that’s the nature of the silliness. I’m amazed at what you can do with a grey coat, incredible to think when we were children we built dens out of old bed sheets and my Mums clothes airer. These are the times Around the World remind me of and it brought a warm smile to my lips, every child should have those memories and that’s what we got tonight. A great performance by a small professional cast, who brought a great show to Salford. It’s there until January 7th 2018, when it moves on for its last stop in Norwich. The play itself is just over two hours long with a short interval, so comfortable to sit through.
So to find out if Phileas Fogg makes it back to The Reform Club by 8.45 p.m. on December 21st, why not enjoy a family trip to the theatre. You won’t be disappointed and nothing is better than a night of laughs to beat those winter blues. And don’t be afraid to allow yourself to get caught up in the moment, shouts,cheers and jeers are all encouraged. Embrace your inner child, you’ll thank yourself.
