Tolkein's tale takes on new incarnation in credible stage show (From Gazette Series)

Tolkein's tale takes on new incarnation in credible stage show

11:59am Thursday 17th June 2010 in

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The Hobbit Bristol Hippodrome

THE fantastical tale of Bilbo Baggins is otherworldly. For many, it is a story told to them as children which requires imagination and suspension of disbelief.

The characters created by the eccentric JRR Tolkein are strange, even spooky at times and certainly unknown.

Which is why the challenges of bringing the story of The Hobbit, the prequel to The Lord of the Rings trilogy, to the stage are so demanding.

This production is faithful to the book as much as possible given the time constraints of a two-and-a-half-hour show. It shows Bilbo’s (Christopher Llewellyn) journey with the dwarves through mountains and forests, enchanted woodlands and underground retreats where the group encounter evil wolves, murderous trolls and the bi-polar incarnation that is Gollum.

Russell Clough shows this enigmatic creature’s Jakyll and Hyde persona brilliantly through his body language, inhuman sounds and chilling high-pitched laugh.

Gandalf, played with omnipotence and mastery by Ian Mckellen in the Peter Jackson films, was missing a little of that authority as Christopher Robbie takes up the role but it was nothing a few microphones couldn’t sort out.

Bilbo discovers The Ring on his journey and finds inner strength to lead the dwarves in their quest to kill the dragon under the mountain and reclaim the land as their own.

Many battles ensue and dramatic choreography depicts the fight between man and beast whilst very simple lighting techniques create different atmospheres of above ground and under.

The book was never going to be easy to bring to theatre audiences and this is a credible attempt but perhaps could do with a little livening up, with another chapter of music or dance.