Roald Dahl’s much-loved Fantastic Mr Fox comes to the stage, stopping in Bradford where LEO OWEN caught the show as part of its UK tour

In keeping with Dahl’s trademark black humour, Sam Holcroft’s stage adaptation of a sly fox out-witting three farmers opens with a barbershop quartet of birds sweetly singing, only for one of their number to be shot.

Tom Scutt’s multi-levelled stage is fairly abstract in design with a live band playing on a platform and slightly industrial looking fox hole below with magnified blades of grass for Fox to poke his head through. Although lower and higher levels are generally utilised for below and above ground, they also add gravitas to Mr Fox’s (Greg Barnett) importance as he first enters elevated above and allow for scenes of multiple action. Scutt uses the full space of the auditorium as a sinister guard dog with flashing red eyes runs through the audience and Farmer Boggis appears in one of the side boxes over-looking the stage. Locations are simply transformed by props, the most impressive being the digger that appears on the top level with two farmers hanging off each side.

Set aside, it is costume where Scutt is at his most imaginative with many of the plot’s central animal characters symbolically wearing costumes almost resembling sporting superheroes. The birds wear shiny yellow sports gear and capes; Rabbit (Sandy Foster) slinks in wearing a white body stocking and pink bumbag; Mouse (Kelly Jackson) is dressed in a 50s’ cheer-leading combi complete with an embroidered “M”; Mole (Gruffudd Glyn) resembles a miner with oversized gloves; Badger (Raphael Bushay) is in American football gear and the fox family wear orange shell suits. Where appropriate, all have ears and tails but it’s Mouse and Mole who are brought most to life through convincing animal mannerisms.

The show introduces new music by Arthur Darvill and a trio of lyricists, eliciting some beautiful harmonising from cast members, although occasionally drowned out by the band. The song “Dig” at first doesn’t exactly stand out but a later reprise has a nice sense of urgency with strong harmonies and improved volume.

Many of the musical numbers add humour to the show with the three farmers giving exaggerated performances like the caricatures Dahl originally wrote. Together they sinisterly sing in front of a mic each and the stage curtain, accompanied by a slapstick drum beat. Mouse sings about cheese types; Mr and Mrs Fox’s (Lillie Flynn) duet “I’m Feeling Foxy” is an endearing number and Farmer Bean modelling Fox’s tail as a rock star ponytail while singing “Feel like a Fox” is another highlight. The introduction of the drunken and self-employed Rat (Richard Atwill) as he guards Bean’s cider stash is particularly comical, including a nicely choreographed duet with Fox as they dance with over-sized cane like straws.

Holcroft’s adaptation is more faithful to Dahl’s original book than Wes Anderson’s film but includes some funny personal touches like complaints the digger’s ipod dock is “knackered”. While musical numbers sometimes let the side down, the cast don’t: working as a team together, playing multiple roles, they perfectly illustrate Holcroft’s message that we are stronger together than alone. Delighting those old enough to be nostalgic and exciting little ones, Fantastic Mr Fox is fun-filled, high energy and sure to raise some smiles.