In 1998, the Jim Henson Company co-produced the London West End musical production of Doctor Dolittle, based on the 1967 movie. The majority of the Henson Company's involvement was in the creation of the nearly one hundred animatronic animals created for the show, including a five-foot tall snail, a seal, dog, monkey, horse, pig, and the most famous of the show, the Pushmi-pullyu. The show starred Phillip Schofield as the Doctor who could "Talk to the Animals."
Nigel Plaskitt served as animal movement director for the show. Polynesia was puppeteered by Wim Booth (and Sarah Burgess in a later tour) and voiced by Julie Andrews. The show was directed by Steven Pimlott, with Choreography by Aletta Collins.
The musical opened on July 14, 1998, running at the same time the film version starring Eddie Murphy was in theatres,[1] also featuring animals from Jim Henson's Creature Shop. The production closed June 26, 1999.[2]
Cast[]
- Dr. John Dolittle: Phillip Schofield
- Emma Fairfax: Sarah Jane Hassell
- Matthew Mugg: Bryan Smyth
- Tommy Stubbins: James Paul Bradley
- General Bellowes: Peter Cellier
- Straight Arrow: Peter Gallagher
- Albert Blossom: John Rawnsley
- Julie Andrews as "The Voice of Polynesia"
- Company: Wim Booth, Kaye E Brown, Mark Carroll, Samuel Carter-Bown, Peter Challis, Patrick Clancy, Scott Cripps, Hadrian Delancey, Chris Duffy, Iestyn Evans, Ross Finnie, Nicola Filshie, Gary Forbes, John Ginley, Michael Gyngell, Heidi Habgood, Andy Heath, David J Higgins, Holli Hoffman, Jane Housley, Sandra Kater, Marjorie Keys, Ryan Laight, Cherida Langford, Angie Lloyd, Tania Mathurin, Gary Milner, Lucy Moorby, Sue OíBrian, Garrett Pennery, Andrew Rothwell, Lynn Robertson Bruce, Gillie Robic, Lacey Scott, Louisa Shaw, Robert Skidmore, Michael Small, Darien Smith, Duncan Smith, Jane Stoggles, Emily Thornhill, Caroline Thompson, Drew Varley, Adam Vaigncourt-Stratten
Crew[]
- Lighting design: Hugh Vanstone
- Sound design: Richard Ryan
- Sound effects design: Paul Arditti
- Orchestrations: Kim Scharnberg
- Animal creations: Jim Hensons Creature Shop
- Musical supervision: Mike Dixon
- Musical director: Michael England
- Executive producer: Adrian Leggett
- Choreography: Aletta Collins
- Production design: Mark Thompson
- Directed by: Steven Pimlott
Musical numbers[]
Act One
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Act Two
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