As the January cold-snap set in, we decided Jurassic times call for Jurassic measures. A visit to Jurassic Earth at The Grand Opera House was in order because…well…who doesn’t like dinosaurs? I’m still a fan, and my favourite film of all time is the original Jurassic Park. A classic.
But is it REX-cellent, or a dino-SNORE? Find out below! Oh and expect more puns (saury, not saury…)
A Blast from the Past
Janelle Thompson as Professor Matilda Bartholomew Hulme opens the shows and is instantly likeable. It quickly becomes clear that audience participation is encouraged, and the little dino fans lap it up (as does this big dino fan!)
Alex Clifford’s Ranger Danger is your Chris-Pratt-alike here, and keeps the dinos in check. The children have no hesitation in joining in with his training sequence, although this did seem to run a little long and interest waned towards the end. We don’t see Ranger Keys (Sophie Coward) all that often, but she shines when on-stage too.
Make no Bones About It
Doctor Bones (Leigh Rayner) gets some of the biggest laughs – a comment about Ranger Danger in a crop-top nearly made me choke on my Maltesers! Rayner is a consummate pro, and clearly knows how to engage the young audience. Bones stands out in that her role is very much character-based, and so contrasts the other straighter roles well. Whether it’s dino-tastic facts or humerus (bone pun) asides, she’s an asset to the show that we’d love to have seen more of.
A raptor-rap could be fun, as she casts off the Doctor’s love of long lectures in a modern twist! Just an idea. Or, copyright-permitting, a remix of Aqua hit Dr Jones? A bit of nostalgia for us oldies.
The cast all work hard to bring history to life, and are full of energy and enthusiasm for the theme. The size of the cast also adds value and makes the production feel bigger. This is an ensemble production with everyone pulling the strings…and rods, and tails!
Comparisons to similar shows are inevitable, so how does this differ? Unlike others which see each dinosaur brought on, talked about and then taken off, Jurassic Earth features more variety and more interaction. From Ranger Danger’s training routine, to a stomping dinosaur song and slapstick with a tranquiliser gun, there’s plenty on offer to mix things up. Perhaps it’s not as fact-packed as it could be, but it is fun – and we’d take that over facts any day!
There’s a plot too, following a mysterious dinosaur egg and new trainee Ranger Rookie (Daisy Leigh) and her attempts to earn a coveted Ranger badge. The audience are rooting for her to pass her training, and we’re pleased to say – spoiler alert – it’s a happy ending! Daisy plays Rookie well, with a bumbling naivety and plenty of ‘oops’ moments.
A Tail of Two Halves…
…well, one actually! At one hour and fifteen minutes without an interval it’s an ideal length for dinosaur fans. The action keeps the audience interested, and there’s a good variety of dinosaurs on display. Each beast is puppeteered to perfection, and you’d be forgiven for thinking that scientists had finally mastered DNA splicing from amber.
From Emily the Brontosaurus, to a pair of Raptors, a Spinosaurus, Carnotaurus and a Triceratops – there are plenty of fan favourites here. Of course, Zeus the T-Rex stands out, and is given plenty of stage time at the end. Unlike other productions, this Rex wasn’t too ferocious – and volume levels were set sensibly – so children weren’t reduced to subsequent nightmares! Seriously, in another production the bass was cranked up and ol’ Rex had children cowering in the Stalls, and many exiting in tears.
In this production, a child is gently encouraged to not only join Zeus on stage, but to retrieve a Ranger badge from his very jaws. Not an easy task, and that’s the tooth of the matter! Again, the cast know how to facilitate this moment carefully and are clearly experienced at working with children.
Director Sharon Lancaster has delivered a ROARsome show of truly Jurassic proportions. The dinosaurs look great, but credit must go the hard-working cast and crew who pull off a prehistoric marvel.
When it comes to dinosaur shows…nothing tricera-tops this!
MAGIC RATING
VALUE FOR MONEY
OVERALL
To find out if Jurassic Earth is stomping it’s way to you, you can visit the official website, check tour dates and book tickets at www.jurassic-earth.co.uk/tour-dates. You can even pre-book VIP tickets with top-tier sets, and a pre-show meet-and-greet with some of the smaller dinosaurs. A must for diehard dino-fans, and a great photo opportunity too!
Based in Yorkshire? It’s coming to the Royal Armouries in Leeds on Sunday February 26th. Book tickets before they go…extinct!
Disclaimer: Tickets were kindly provided for this performance, however all opinions are honest and are our own.
Review Wizard 