BWW Reviews: Roald Dahl's JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH Comes to Life at Imagination Stage

There's nothing quite like the fantastical worlds depicted in Roald Dahl's children's books and James and the Giant Peach is certainly no exception. Thanks to David Wood's stage adaptation, audience members who grew up reading Dahl's stories and young kids being introduced to them for the first time can experience young hero James' world up close and personal. Presented in rep with a lesser known Dahl creation, The Magic Finger (watch for a review next week on BroadwayWorld), Imagination Stage's Artistic Director Janet Stanford has leveraged an array of creative resources to bring this story of escapism, creativity, and perseverance to life.

When we meet James Henry Trotter (Ian Berlin at the performance I attended in a role shared with Sean Silvia), he's living in Central Park in an unusual house. With the help of a film crew, he's making a movie of the unbelievable adventures that brought him to his humble abode. With the help of some friends and some catchy 60s music (Tim Guillot), he tells the story of how he turned a less than ideal situation into a positive one. His world came crashing down when his parents unexpectedly died leaving him to live with two evil aunts, Sponge (Phillip Reid) and Spiker (fearless understudy Mitchell Brandon in a role usually played by Joe Brack). When a peach that grows at an exponential rate is discovered in his aunts' yard, he meets some new 'buggy' friends who live inside it and together they set off on a journey that they'll never forget.

Although the strength of this play lies mainly in the source material, Stanford's inventive use of Guillot's pop music, cartoon-inspired, action-packed video (Stephen Guidry and David Stern), puppets (Matthew McGee), colorful 60s inspired costumes (Kendra Rai), and creative sets (Milagros Ponce de Leon), enhance the telling of James' tale and make it intoxicating to watch. While I would debate the choice to use a 'film within a play' framing device - it doesn't add much to the telling of the story and makes the story a bit disjointed (not to mention the omnipresent camera sometimes blocks the audience's view of the action) - it does bring a modern touch to the timeless tale that may be particularly resonant with 21^st century kids. Likewise, the decision to include some interactive moments (the details of which will not be spoiled here), proves useful in helping keep everyone engaged.

While the pacing of the production is sometimes a bit sluggish particularly in the moments leading to and following the intermission, it is easier to overlook this deficiency thanks to the strong acting from start to finish. No matter the situation, the endlessly energetic actors remain committed and present in their roles. Although there are no weak links, three actors stood out for me.

Berlin - the glue that held the show together - is endearing and wise beyond his years as the charming James. An equally capable musician and actor, he has a future in show business. Phillip Reid, in multiple roles, is also noteworthy for his versatility. He is deliciously evil as Aunt Sponge and his take on the Earthworm who James befriends is an unexpected highlight. His droll line delivery is matched by equally strong physical comedy skills as the two sail with their friends across the ocean and overcome a series of seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Lauren Du Pree (Miss Spider) lights up the stage at every moment she's the sassy arachnid. She's certainly a triple threat - singing, acting, and dancing up a storm in a way that's sure to delight all children.

Imagination Stage's delightful creativity makes this show one to see.

Running Time: 90 minutes including an intermission.

James and the Giant Peach plays through May 26, 2013 at Imagination Stage - 4908 Auburn Avenue in Bethesda, MD. For tickets, call the box office at 301-280-1660 or purchase them online.

Photo: Clockwise L to R: Lauren Du Pree (Miss Spider), Phillip Reid (Earthworm), Ian Berlin (James), Matthew Schleigh (Grasshopper), Eric Messner (Centipede), and Leigh Jameson (Ladybug); by Margot Schulman.

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