Empire Theatre, Liverpool – until Saturday 26th February 2022
Reviewed by Mia Bowen
5*****
Bedknobs and Broomsticks is flying into Liverpool for a short but sweet visit. This classic Disney movie has been adapted for the stage, taking the audience on a magical journey, on a flying bed! This brand new production, which I had the great delight of seeing alongside many small children, knew exactly how to grab and keep the attention of the audience.
The story is based on the two novels by Mary Norton, The Magic Bedknob (1943) and Bonfires and Broomsticks (1947), which in 1971 the Disney musical film took over. In short the plot sees three young siblings Charlie (Conor O’Hara), Carrie (Poppy Houghton) and Paul Rawlins (Jasper Hawes), evacuated during the Blitz and placed in the care of Miss Eglantine Price (Dianne Pilkington). As the plot plays out, the audience learns that Miss Price is an apprentice witch, learning witchcraft through a correspondence college, which Professor Emelius Browne (Charles Brunton) is the Headmaster of. It transpires that Miss Price hopes that she can use the spells in the British war effort against the Nazi’s. The story then follows their adventures to find the spell which makes it all happens.
Without giving away too much, there are a few changes between the original storyline and this new production. There are musical numbers aplenty with new material from Neil Bartram blended with the originals by the famed Sherman Brothers. Also brace yourselves for a heartbreaking twist of an ending, I had tears running down my face. I now know why the set stayed on stage the entire time, its purpose was given a greater meaning.
The cast worked the spectacular set, moving around the pieces to make it all work in perfect timing and relying on good old puppetry and talent to transport you into a world of fantasy. The most memorable part of the musical was of course the flying bed, followed closely by the flying broomstick.
By the end of the evening, I was chanting along to ‘Treguna Makoidees, Trecorum, Sadis Dee!’ at the back of my head, even doing a little air kick on my way to the train station. This production clearly worked their Disney magic on me!