The Jungle Book By Wicked Productions Review

Disclaimer: We received press tickets in exchange for this post, as always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Yesterday we were treated to an absolutely brilliant performance at The Harlow Playhouse of The Jungle Book performed by Wicked Productions.

As you know, we are lucky enough to visit many children’s productions and shows both on the Westend stages and local productions. With the local smaller productions, we adults go knowing the kids will enjoy the show, but also aware that we are there just to provide the ride, tickets and treats for the kids. They are mainly for the enjoyment of the children, as they should be as they are children’s shows after all.

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The Jungle Book by Wicked Productions Review

The Jungle Book, performed by Wicked Productions, was a far cry from the shows we parents are often forced to endure for the sake of the kids.

From the off the main actors were on the floor selling programmes and merchandise, mingling with the audience, chatting and taking photographs. The banter stated before the curtain even lifted and the laughter began then and really didn’t stop throughout the show.

This was more a comedy performance than a kids show, filled with jokes for the kids and rammed packed with adult humour too.

Some of the jokes on the more risky scale and thankfully going far over the kid’s heads but leaving us adults howling with laughter.

I honestly don’t think I stopped laughing throughout the whole show and the kids didn’t either. At times they were laughing just because I was, and not because they got the jokes, although there were so many funny bits for the kids too.

A good mix of slapstick, teamed with fantastic costumes, great acting and catchy songs. This is a must-see for all Jungle Book fans.

The original storyline is present, with the characters portrayed in a funny and witty manner. Mowgli is cared for by his animal family of Wolves who would lay down their lives for him, bringing him up as one of their own. The characters all have their own funny personalities with even the Mum and Dad wolves having a spat as he had forgotten their 20th Anniversary.

There is the funniest tongue twister which you really don’t think the actors are going to manage without letting slip the wrong words, resulting in the whole audience in fits of giggles when they actually do manage to do it – just how I have no idea and it would have required a LOT of practice.

There are lots of references to pop songs in the show with the most hilarious scene being after Bagheera had been hypnotised and Baloo hits him over the head with a frying pan to try to fix him. Baloo then breaks out into song and dance. I had tears rolling down my face as I was laughing so hard.

At one point I thought Harry was going to fall off of his chair as he was laughing so much – there is a part when they are talking about Honey and they learn a rhyme, once said they are squirted with water in the face by the other characters – fast forward this happening a few times and it leads to hilarity, wet audiences and a very damp stage.

I’m not going to give away any more of the show, you will just have to try to catch it yourselves. A full list of tour dates are available on the website: www.jordanproductionsltd.co.uk

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