Theatre Review

Eleanor Pearson
23 November 2016

Fire, Fury and Friendship: Jungle Fever in Longueville

Director Bedelia Lowrencev got it right when she cast Lane Cove Theatre Company’s The Jungle Book.

In this stage version of Rudyard Kipling's classic story collection, Mowgli is a girl, and played with charm and strength by 10 year-old Charlotte Pugh.
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Charlotte Pugh as Mowgli the man-cub. Photo by Dawn Pugh
Shere Khan the tiger is also female, and played with ruthless ferocity by Holly Boswell, 13.
Bagheera the panther is played by 13 year-old Madeleine Biddle, who moves across the stage with big-cat strides and animal dexterity.
Meanwhile Baloo the bear is one of the few roles played by an adult - Rod Stewart, 68. As Mowgli’s mentor, Stewart delightfully inhabits the stage with wit and warmth.
In supporting roles, Jeremy Lowrencev, 18, is a dignified Akela, the wolf-pack leader, while Jocelyn Chalmers, 21, as Raksha the wolf, is both maternal and fierce. So we believe her when she says to her adopted daughter, Mowgli:

The Jungle Book

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Photo by Greg Piper
“Your mother is a wolf. If anyone here is to kill you, it will be me.”
This musical is energy-infused, without a dull moment. The big-cast song and dance numbers deserve particular mention.

There are some darker moments though, where the savagery of the animals in their jungle habitat is palpable. 
Younger audience members may justifiably cringe when Tabaqui the jackal (Jeremy Segal) cackles maniacally, or Kaa the snake (Daniel Timmins) moves among them. Even the pesky monkey tribe (Emma Ashley, Katie Matheson and Alice Austin) who lead Mowgli astray with their infectious energy, have a slightly sinister air.
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The costumes by Rose Edwards are key. Cleverly, the individual natures of the animal characters are indicated by hats, masks, and face paint, but the actors wear basic black, so accents such as fur trimming, feathers or animal print cloaks, make them distinctively the creatures they portray. 
It is also evident the cast have performed their due diligence observing real wild animals, by the way they carry themselves and move.
The new performance space at St Aidan’s seems to work well for this show. The simple, yet effective set enables the performers to use different levels, and have room for big dance numbers, while engaging the audience at close quarters.
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​There are many exciting moments in this production. However, for me, the ensemble dance number at the end of Act One, where Mowgli discovers the “red flower” or fire, and brings it back to the jungle, is an obvious highlight. The use of ABBA’s song, Tiger, with its lyrics: “I am behind you, I’ll always find you” sung by Shere Khan to Mowgli is also apt and makes for a chilling warning.  There are also tender moments, such as the song “I will take care of you” sung by Mowgli’s human and wolf guardians.

This stage adaptation is dynamic, and promises an evening (or afternoon) of fun entertainment for all those who venture into the jungle!

The Jungle Book plays until December 3, 2016
Lane Cove Theatre Company  
Season:  18 November - 3 December
Address:  St Aidans Hall, 1 Christina Street, Longueville NSW 2066
See the Preview for The Jungle Book Here