The sissy in wolf’s clothing of Ian Whybrow’s book is sent away for good behaviour in this crafty musical show for over-fives, directed by Anthony Clark. In this lupine world, bad is good, which is just the sort of concept young children enjoy playing with, and when that concept is accompanied by live music, songs, howling, growling and much farting, so much the better.
Little Wolf’s world is described through designer Liz Cooke’s simple framework of Gothic arches, containing curved slides and simple rustic props to signify both the family’s lair in Murkshire, and, later, Uncle Bigbad’s more stately Cunning College, where Little must study the nine rules of badness before he is allowed home. A connection between the two locations is established through Little’s letters home, which also serve a narrative purpose. Grey clothes, furry collars and tails and yellow-eyed head-dresses distinguish the cast’s wolfish roles from their human ones. The excellent, growly Grant Stimpson, who plays Little’s exasperated dad Gripper and terrifying Uncle Bigbad, and wide-eyed Ilan Goodman as Little Wolf keep their animal roles throughout. The others roll neatly between wolf, human and musician parts, playing clarinets, French horn, trumpet, recorder and cello to pad out the core drum and piano musical accompaniment.
After a slightly tame start, while Little Wolf’s shortcomings are established, the show picks up pace, both in musical and visual terms. The introduction of crooked Uncle Bigbad, Ann Marcuson’s super-prissy Little Red Goodie-Hoodie and Christopher Staines’ hilariously keen Scoutmaster brings in a more wholeheartedly comic dimension. It only needs a potent mix of Bigbad’s prodigious appetite, a gigantic tin of beans and a naked flame to create a fittingly wicked snappy ending for Little Wolf’s story, one that the cubs will be talking about for a long time to come.
