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ACT I
In the 19th century, Doctor Doolittle is a popular, if somewhat eccentric, physician with a particular love of animals living in the seaside town of Puddleby-By-The-Sea).. At the Doctor's home, Irishman Matthew Mugg, shows in the blowhard General Bellowes for a consultation with My Friend the Doctor. Bellowes complains that the doctor's cure for his gout has had no effect and leaves in a foul temper. The doctor reflects that he would much rather work with animals and that he would be the greatest animal doctor on earth if only he could Talk to the Animals. The Doctor's parrot, Polynesia, then astonishes the doctor by holding a conversation with him, claiming to know over five thousand animal languages. Polynesia agrees to teach the doctor to speak to the animals and he gives up his human practice to become an animal doctor. Some time later, Emma Fairfax brings an injured fox for the Doctor to treat, but the couple get off on the wrong foot when the doctor learns that Emma is the neice of his enemy, Bellowes. Emma cannot help having a grudging respect for the doctor, despite the fact that He's Impossible. The Doctor's house is now full of recovering animals and the doctors study of animal languages is well advanced. Matthew and young Tommy Stubbins have become his assistants and the group are having The Time of Our Lives. The doctor is learning to speak advanced crustacean in preparation for an expedition to meet the legendary Great Pink Sea Snail, said to be the wisest creature on Earth, but is struggleing to raise the funds for the voyage. Then a large box arrives from one of the Doctors friends in Africa. It contains a strange exotic creature, a kind of two-headed llama called a pushme-pullyou. The doctor takes the creature to a nearby circus where all the performers agree that I've Never Seen Anything Like It. The circus manager makes the creature his star attraction for a limited four week engagement, and agrees to share the profits with the doctor to fund his expedition. Emma does not know that the pushme-pullyou is a willing participant in the scheme and is disappointed that My Friend the Doctor [reprise] seems to be a hypocrite, taking advantage of a poor animal. At the circus the Doctor befriends sophie, a home-sick seal (When I Look in Your Eyes), and smuggles her out of the circus in a wheelchair disguised as an old lady. But at the harbour he is seen releasing her into the ocean and is arrested on suspicion of drowning an old woman. At his trial he is horrified to find that the judge is his nemesis Bellowes. When evidence is brought forward of the missing seal and some missing clothing from the circus, the case against the Doctor is dropped but Bellowes instead orders him to be committed to a lunatic asylum. With the help of his friends, the doctor escapes from the asylum and sets off straight away on his expedition, realising that After Today there is no place for him in Puddleby.
ACT II
The doctor has escaped with his friends Matthew and Tommy by commandeering a vessel in the harbour, not realising that the ship belonged to Bellowes or that Emma was on board. Out at sea the group discuss the Fabulous Places that they will be able to visit. Sticking a pin in a map to select their destination, it picks out the last known location of the fabled floating Seastar Island. Aboard the ship the Doctor realises that he is falling in love with Emma, and wonders Where are the Words to describe his feelings for her. A sudden storm brews up and the ship sinks, casting the group adrift in the raging waters. When the storm abates they wash up on the shores of a mysterious island where they are captured by the natives. But the king of the island is none other than Doolittle's friend who sent him the pushme-pullyou - they have found Seastar Island. The king tells them of his mission to Save the Animals and introduces the doctor to the Great Pink Sea Snail which lives in the waters around the island. The group then spend an idyllic time on the island where Emma's own feelings for the Doctor are growing because of Something in Your Smile. Soon the group must return home so that young Tommy can continue his schooling. The Doctor, however, will remain behind since he is after all a wanted man back home (After Today [reprise]), and wishes to try to locate the legendary Giant Lunar Moth. To carry the others home they enlist the aid of the Sea Snail to carry them in his watertight shell. A short time after his friends have returned home, however, a new visitor arrives on the island, it is Sophie the seal, carrying a message begging the Doctor to return home where his friends need him. Back in Puddleby the Doctor's friends are leading The Voice of Protest for animal rights against the unfeeling General Bellowes. Bellowes threatens Emma and the other ringleaders with arrest, but suddenly a strange apparition appears in the distant sky. The crowd all agree that I've Never Seen Anything Like It [reprise] as the Doctor returns to Puddleby carried by the Giant Lunar Moth. Bellowes orders the Doctor to be arrested but backs down when the doctor threatens to call all the animals out on strike, meaning no transport, no eggs, no racing and no fox hunting. The townsfolk celebrate and welcome back My Friend the Doctor [reprise], and Doctor Doolittle himself introduces us to his world.
This is a fast-paced, colourful, big-budget spectacular that provides a fitting vehicle for a song and dance legend and boasts a collection of puppets and animal costumes that would not look out of place in Jim Henson's workshop.
After fifty years in show-business, Tommy Steele is the consummate showman and the enthusiasm of the applause that greeted his first appearance on stage was ample testimony to his enduring popularity. With a vitality that belies his seventy-one years of age, Tommy's performance really brings this show alive and holds all the various elements together. Rex Harrison, so well known from the film version, is a hard act to follow but Tommy does so admirably whilst remainig true to his own inimitable style. Not that this is by any means a one man show, far from it in fact, with a an excellent supporting cast of humans and animal puppets. Tommy's leading lady is Abigail Jaye has a delightfully clear singing voice and gave a superb acting performance as the exasperated Emma Fairfax. Although more than forty years his junior, she and Tommy looked so comfortable together (and Tommy looked so much younger than his years) as to completely cover up any incongruity in the love interest between them. Their solo's to each other, Tommy's Where are the Words? and Emma's Something In Your Smile, provided easily the most touching moments of the the evening's entertainment. Impressive also were Connor Michael-Sheridan who brought a subtle Irish charm to the role of Matthew Muggins, and tiny Joanna Forrest as the juvenile Tommy Stubbins.
Then there were the animals, and what a suberb little menagerie they made up. In the first act, after Doolittle has made his decision to become an animal doctor, his library is filled with animals occupying all the shelves and displaying the same kind of cheeky mischeivous charm that we are accustomed to seeing from the characters on the Muppet show. And whether they are arm puppets or full body costumes they are all superbly well made and immensely beleivable. Jip the dog was superbly embodied by James Deverell, both looking and moving like a real 'Dulux' dog (old English Sheepdog), the two woman pullme-pullyou performed a terrific dance routine, and the cheeky poorly pig was simply hilarious.
The members of the ensemble played sang and danced with some gusto as well as animating the animal characters. The music is varied with catchy tunes and interesting lyrics which really support the thread of the story. Standout moments included Tommy's intimate with the audience rendition of Talk to the Animals and the lively I've Never Seen Anything Like It with it's rousing chorus and colourful circus set of dazzling costumes.
All in all, this is a real, traditional family show led by a real, traditional family entertainer. Tommy Steele may not be as spry as in his former years, but his enthusiasm and warmth of character are as great as ever and his voice seems remarkably unchanged from those old 1960's movies. It is easy to see why he is such an enduring character from the special, heartfelt relationship he has with his audience. It was not without just desert that he received a standing ovation at the end, nor without tears in his eyes that he left the stage after his final bow.
A spectacular, big-budget, feel-good musical that is a vast amount of fun for all the family.