Water Babies (Chichester)

Written a century before Roald Dahl, clergyman Charles Kingsley’s The Water Babies is no less dark nor strange. An immensely popular book in its time, The Water Babies tells the story of an abused child chimney-sweep who drowns and turns into an immortal creature. Underwater, he meets an array of fantastical beasts, including talking fish, fairies and the always good humoured water babies.

It is also a story of child death and redemption through forgiveness. Today, however, its pedantically sermonising style seems to compare unfavourably with Alice in Wonderland (published two years later) and Dickens’ realistic approach to social injustice.

A new musical take on this fairy story by Gary Yershon (book) and Jason Carr (music and lyrics) adopts a light touch on the rudder, and whilst not veering away from the darker elements of the story, never takes itself too seriously.

Director Jeremy Sams tells the story with clarity and colour, in Robert Jones’ aqua-blue, pleasant, low tech, design. The whole production has a somewhat old-fashioned air about it that’s strangely refreshing. The libretto is not as satirically sharp as Honk! (probably the best recent example of a children’s story set to music) nor are the songs anywhere as good, although, like Stiles and Drew (Honk‘s composers), Carr is clearly a Sondheim aficionado.

In the stylistical mix n’ match score, there are chirpy numbers that could have come from the late David Heneker’s bottom drawer, and sly references to Into the Woods and Sweeney Todd. Sondheim’s jerky rhythms, key changes, and short line lyrics with their internal rhymes appear with some frequency. The overall effect is compelling and does not jar in the least. There are no hit, stand-alone songs here, but “Children in the Storm” is a truly affecting tear-jerker from Grimes’ mourning mother.

A large cast, including Joe McGann as Grimes, sing and dance their hearts out to Jonathan Lunn’s choreography, doubling as necessary. But the star of the show is undoubtedly the superb Louise Gold, as both the severe Mrs Bedonebyasyoudid and her ultra camp sister (in billowing pink taffeta), Mrs Doasyouwouldbedoneby, in what seemed to me to be a delicious homage to Chicago‘s Mary Sunshine.

Also outstanding are Katherine O’Shea as pure soul, Ellie, whose vocal clarity in dialogue and song could not be faulted, and Neil McDermott as Tom. A word too for the touching and appealing Nicola Sloane as Mrs Grimes.

My 12-year-old companion loved the show, and so did I. A truly lovely and magical evening.

– Stephen Gilchrist