Around The World In 80 Days

Jules Verne was a man with a BIG imagination, one that journeyed to the centre of the earth, that traversed the globe in a matter of days and went thousands of leagues under the sea.

And, whether you know the French novelist’s name or not, you will most likely have come across his thought-provoking ideas which, like Orwell and Huxley’s, were way ahead of their time.

Full marks, therefore, to Leeds Playhouse who completed the impossible by getting a cast of four – aided by the most overworked props lady in Christendom – to stage Around the World in 80 Days.

It was the ultimate concertina play, distilling a huge concept into a workable, enjoyable show that ran for just two hours in the Playhouse’s pop up theatre, the penultimate production before actors resume their place in the main, re-vamped auditorium.

The audience felt positively breathless for the players such was the pace of the production as we passed through every continent in the world with Joe Alessi as Passepartout, Darren Kuppan as Fix of the Yard and Robert Pickavance at the ubiquitous Phileas Fogg.

Many will know the story backwards, courtesy of David Niven’s award-winning movie of the same name but, for those that don’t……Phineas takes a bet to traverse the globe in just 80 days, aided by his valet Passepartout. Of course he achieves it with just seconds to spare although the bet is secondary to the sheer spectacle of his adventures en-route to triumph.

There was a real sense that these actors – all members of the Playhouse Ensemble, a modern take on old-fashioned rep – knew each other, which they do. And it shows. There was such a sense of fun and unity on stage, which was great to witness.

Director Alexander Ferris brought a refreshing approach to the production, taking ideas pioneered so well by the Reduced Shakespeare Company; eight parts for each man, at least that’s how it felt!

And there was player number four, Dan Parr who appeared as the costume changing novelist himself, always challenging for a part in the show that was destined to tell the story of his novel. At first I was not quite sure what to make of this but, in truth, the more it went on, the more the Phineas Fogg lifted and I was quite taken by this workable, alternative and humorous approach!

The actors worked hard but, more to the point, they had fun and this translated to the audience which, at times, bordered on pantomime interlopers, as they were invited to join in with overt hamming-up on stage.

This had the potential to be a wieldy production but it wasn’t. Ferris found a way of distilling a large concept into something very workable and, thanks to an intimate well-oiled cast, they pulled it off, delivering an enjoyable, fun show that, somehow, translated to all ages. The little girl to my rear laughed harder than her parents! Well worth a watch!

Leeds Playhouse
Until April 28th 2019.