Theater review: English import ‘Enormous Crocodile’ makes Roald Dahl delightful

Key Takeaways:

• The production is an English import based on Roald Dahl’s “Enormous Crocodile.”
• Intended largely for younger audiences, it still carries a mischievous edge.
• The titular crocodile’s goal is to eat a child.
• Dahl’s style blends whimsical storytelling with a hint of danger.
• Critics have called the adaptation “delightful.”

A Vibrant Children’s Tale with a Dangerous Twist

Roald Dahl’s “Enormous Crocodile” arrives onstage with an English import that feels tailor-made for younger audiences. Adapting Dahl’s work often means balancing playful humor with an undercurrent of something decidedly darker, and this production does not disappoint.

A Crocodile with a Chilling Appetite

At the heart of this performance is a crocodile fixated on one troubling goal: devouring a child. As the original article notes, “No story of Dahl’s was more clearly designed for younger readers, yet the central figure is a beast intent upon eating a child.” This blend of child-friendly elements with a menacing twist reflects Dahl’s knack for delighting and unnerving his audience in equal measure.

Dahl’s Signature Whimsy and Danger

Roald Dahl is celebrated for his ability to fold the extraordinary into everyday life. In “Enormous Crocodile,” he juxtaposes bright, playful language with the sobering fact that a hungry crocodile is on the prowl. The result is a story that resonates with children’s imaginations, feeding both their sense of adventure and their thrill at a narrow escape.

Why It Works for All Ages

While the “Enormous Crocodile” is aimed at younger viewers, the show’s combination of energy, color, and Dahl’s trademark humor make it no ordinary children’s theater piece. Audiences are likely to revel in how such a seemingly dark premise can still spark laughter. Leo Lionni famously said that while some stories for children can be purely sweet, Dahl’s brand of storytelling introduces a playful jolt of danger that keeps everyone, including adults, on their toes.

The production’s English roots add an international flair that fans of Dahl’s British background will appreciate. It ensures that classic sensibility remains intact, treating families and young theatergoers to a delightfully outrageous crocodile whose ambitions are as startling as they are entertaining.