Special mention also has to be given to the ‘pets’ of these Pongo and Perdi, who in our world we would know as the human owners of our canine duo. Eric Stroud and Karen Fishwick are utterly fantastic in their roles as Dominic and Danielle. Conjuring a true emotional connection just like their doggy counterparts, their compelling portrayal engages the audience with their plight from the offset.
The ensemble of this visually complicated show is easily one of the hardest working in London, with an almost-constant presence on stage as dancer, singer, set-moving ‘puppy-teers’. They certainly deserve the rapturous applause received after each superbly choreographed number.
The name of Cruella De Vil alone evokes invokes such a strong image that even a highly experienced and skilled actor like Kate Fleetwood must face the challenge of filling such big, infamous shoes. Her opening scenes felt somewhat low key as she introduces us to her strong east London accented portrayal of this iconic Disney villain. Quite a departure from Glenn Close’s upper class fashion-crazed baddie, it isn’t long before Fleetwood’s De Vil gets into gear, delighting us with superb vocals (not a touch of husk-y) and the true confidence of this pure evil character. Her commanding performance of Für Fur, closing Act 1, is so incredibly memorable, culminating in a final tableau that has the hairs on your arm standing on end as you witness the true scale of the Dalmatian fur coat she is planning to create.