Swinging into Melbourne these April holidays, your favourite jungle friends are taking over The Capitol in the CBD in The Jungle Book: The Next Chapter, a fresh adventure inspired by Rudyard Kipling’s classic tales.
Mowgli is back to visit his besties Baloo the loveable sloth bear, Bagheera the protective black panther, Kaa the hypnotic snake and many more. There’s mischief. Mayhem. And everything fun you could possibly expect for a memorable musical holiday experience!
Children will be dancing in the aisles and jumping out of their seats during this production by Australian Shakespeare Company, with every moment a delight. Adults will laugh at the jokes and good humour. The kiddos will sing, cheer, and duck for cover as all sorts of surprises fly into and across the audience.
Mowgli, who is everyone’s happy friend, has taken to life in the city. He is now married and has a daughter! But he misses his time in the jungle. So he pops back for a visit, hoping to share all of his good news and catch up with the animal family that raised him.
At first, Baloo does not recognise this man creature all dressed in a suit. But they soon remember the dances and jokes they enjoyed with each other and reminisce about all of the good times.
There are special songs. Cheeky monkeys. All the funky moves. Shared handshakes. Happy memories. And even some rap and tap!
The production is full of energy and pure joy. Max Macdonald as Mowgil and Teddy Burgess as Baloo lead the cast, and their partnership is beautifully heart-warming. It transcends a ray of sunshine into the audience that lights up like a Care Bear stare.
Their onstage friendship adds to the uplifting spirit that fills the theatre and charms the families as they smile and sway along to the music. Macdonald is full of excitement, eyes twinkling and radiating charm as Mowgli. He dons the loincloth and tattered attire with brilliant confidence, singing and dancing across the stage with a dynamic presence.
Burgess is full of cheer and courage, gathering the crowd behind him at every moment with a gentle sweetness that is caring and kind. With an amazing voice, his musicality shines under the emerald-green jungle lights.
As Bagheera, Nicholas Dugdale slinks in some fabulous singing solos. As Kaa, Luke London shines as he slithers in with craft and scheme. We clap along, bop to the beats and join in the animalistic adventure that leads even the tiniest of elephants onto the stage.
As the playfully sly Jackal, Bronson Pfeiler adds the giggles and smiles as he slimes his way through the audience, trying to eat treats and gaining some high-five incentives.
He adds a sprinkle of pepper when he taps onto the platform, swinging his cane and taking on a character with full embodiment and investment. What fun it was when he sat in the audience, chatting to the younger cubs, transfixed on his gleaming face.
Excitement plus is exactly what The Jungle Book: The Next Chapter is all about. Evidenced by my 5-year-old nephew, who screamed out into the city as he charged down the theatre steps: “I saw a show! It was great!”
The Jungle Book: The Next Chapter is a fabulously fun, musical journey that cleverly invites you into the jungle for an hour of entertainment and laughter. It is great for young families and friends to experience an immersive theatre production where everyone is your friend.
The Jungle Book is presented by the Australian Shakespeare Company and runs to 19 April at The Capitol, Melbourne. 113 Swanston Street Melbourne Vic 3000.
Tickets are available here.
Website: https://www.shakespeareaustralia.com.au/shows/the-jungle-book
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/shakespeareaust/
Images supplied.
