“Loads of puppets and Rice’s customary practice of putting instruments in the hands of her excellent actors lend a pleasing whimsy to ‘946’…Rice does not shy from the grimness of the military disaster...It is horribly moving. Yet in the show’s most demonstrative emotional moment, Rice and Morpurgo are heavy-handed just when they should be restrained…Those are the only times, though, that this fine production loses its poise. The rest of it is all about balance: of mirth and sorrow."
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“I certainly bridled—and the trouble began early…We're in a sugar-coated World War Twee where everyone was wonderful to everybody…There's a long, proud history of telling the story of wartime through children's (comparatively) innocent eyes…But ‘Adolphus Tips’ never questions the rose-colored glasses; rather, Rice and Morpugo are jamming them onto our faces…I fell off the ride early, and for two hours, I suffered.”
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"This charming and surprisingly touching creation by author Michael Morpurgo, director Emma Rice and the ever-inventive British Kneehigh Theatre Company. A talented multitasking ensemble and a merry band of musicians recall a dark slice of World War II...Don’t let puppets and toy soldiers and battleships fool you, there’s more here than just child’s play."
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"Kneehigh is known for its bold theatrical choices, and '946' doesn't shy away from them—even if it doesn't add up to the same impact of some of its previous productions...Has a tendency to feel reminiscent of Morpurgo's biggest hit to date, 'War Horse'...'946' feels slightly less original than it should...But we have to hand it to director Rice and her team, who've managed to create a version of Brechtian alienation that children will understand, even if it doesn't pan out all the way.”
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"The play becomes genuinely moving near the end…But for a long stretch of its running time, ‘946: The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips’ skates very lightly over its most emotionally potent material, entertaining the audience in a way that doesn't always feel fully honest…'Tips' certainly knows how to make its audience happy...Still, there's a darker, more moving story inside, still waiting to get out. You can bring the entire family to this production -- and, oddly, that may be its weakest point."
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"It’s an enchanting show about a tragic event – if such a paradox is possible...An entertaining and deeply moving theatrical experience. Her stagecraft is nothing short of magical...Rice directs a marvelous, multi-talented 12-member ensemble who dance, sing, play multiple roles, and manipulate scores of puppets...Ultimately, credit goes to the vision of the amazing Emma Rice."
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"A rich theatrical family-friendly evening of story, music, dance and puppets...This Kneehigh show continually captures our hearts...The cast is led by Katy Owen as Lily, played to perfection...'946: The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips' demands an attention and a collective imagination from the viewer, making it a special theatrical treat. St Ann’s Warehouse is to be commended for giving Kneehigh a New York home!"
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“What ‘946: The Amazing Story Of Adolphus Tips’ lacks — almost aggressively — is any sense of time and place…Artistic director Emma Rice has tossed in everything here, including a panto-style of performance entirely at odds with the bittersweet material…A show where most every choice is misguided…They drain away all the drama, nuance and texture of the book…I’d say Kneehigh has lost its way, but in fact it seems more like Kneehigh has been lost for a long time.”
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