By Fiona Maddocks
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| Grant Doyle as Fantastic Mr Fox |
Seven of its players (City of London Sinfonia) had been hard at work earlier in the day, performing in the European premiere run of Tobias Picker's
Fantastic Mr Fox (1998) a family opera based on Roald Dahl's story. Holland Park had commissioned a shorter version, performed in the magical wooded glade of the yukka lawn.
A spirited young cast led by Grant Doyle and Olivia Ray as Mr and Mrs Fox held its young audience captive. Four Botticellian wood sprites, who could also sing divinely, led the promenade performance from tree to tree. It was expertly done and deserves a life beyond west London. OHP has high hopes that, with festivals such as Latitude showing interest, it will.
