“The show is aimed at those aged eight and over; there is nothing that will give anyone nightmares here...The length, at nearly three hours including interval, may be a bit of a stretch for younger audience members and a few sections of the second half meander a little. However, most of the production whips by in a stream of pure entertainment.”
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“Whilst the production is impressive, it currently lacks a rousing Act One number that would propel the musical to near perfection, leaving the audience with an easily recognisable melody or catchy anthem as they head into the interval.”
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" ‘The Witches’ really is for everyone, (everyone over eight anyway). Because it’s quite easily the funniest new musical London has seen since at least ‘The Book of Mormon’. ... NT has thrown absolutely everything it has at ‘The Witches’, and the results are pure magic."
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"Some have accused The Witches of being misogynistic. It’s not so much that its slant feels hugely problematic here, more that it’s not massively dramatic. My biggest concern was what the author himself might have made of an extravaganza which has kids chirpily singing inside packing cases and belting out a number as cute as anything in Nativity; it’s not that there’s never a Dahl moment, but even so there’s much sanitisation."
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"The scariness of childhood and the fear of death are present and correct, as is an awareness of economic or social difference…There are occasional lacunae here but this is a polished, witty, crisply sardonic serving of Dahl. And if the other child actors sharing the central roles are as good as the ones I saw, they deserve all the plaudits."
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"It’s a rare musical that can warm your heart and chill you to the bone all at once – and that makes 'The Witches' essential viewing for all but the most sensitive kids. It’s a festive nightmare, electrifying as a failed bid to untangle your broken fairy lights, and just as sparkling."
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" I’ll admit that, perhaps because of the Olivier’s treacherous acoustics, I wasn’t able to catch every syllable of the quicksilver lyrics. If I’m being ultra-critical, I’d add that the mechanised mice were a tad slow. But don’t be put off: this is a stunning achievement. As well as some terrific songs, here’s a show that doesn’t try to gloss over the issue of mortality. It stares death in the face, and laughs."
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“There is fun, wit and imagination in Lyndsey Turner’s production...Lucy Kirkwood brings the magic through a script stuffed with effervescent one-liners.”
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