Review: Family Fun with ‘The Enormous Crocodile’ at Kirk Douglas Theatre

From left: Taya Ming and Nia Stephen in the National Tour of "The Enormous Crocodile" (Photo by Danny Kaan)

As you enter the Kirk Douglas Theatre, you are handed a large foam peanut and greeted by smoke-filled soap bubbles that waft through the air. Eager children, peanuts in hand, scramble to pop as many bubbles as they can. Even from this pre-show, it’s clear that “Roald Dahl’s The Enormous Crocodile” will be filled with spectacle and interactivity.

This musical adaptation of Roald Dahl’s 1978 children's book “The Enormous Crocodile” premiered at Leeds Playhouse in the U.K. in 2023, and currently has separate U.K. and U.S. touring companies bringing the show to multiple cities.

From left: Ryan Crellin-Simpson, Nia Stephen, Siobhan Athwal and Alison Arnopp in the National Tour of "The Enormous Crocodile" (Photo by Danny Kaan)

The story centers on the titular character (played by a charismatic Taya Ming) daring to leave its river habitat in the jungle because it wants to eat a child. As it ventures up on land and makes its way through the jungle, it encounters Trunky the Elephant (Nia Stephen), Humpy Rumpy the Hippopotamus (Ryan Crellin-Simpson), Roly Poly Bird (Alison Arnopp) and Muggle Wump the Monkey (Siobhan Athwal).

The Enormous Crocodile’s fellow animals all try to dissuade it from wanting to eat children (now plural, because the crocodile gets hungrier and hungrier), but the Crocodile claims it has “secret plans and clever tricks” that will win the day.

From left: Siobhan Athwal, Nia Stephn, Ryan Crellin-Simpson and Alison Arnopp in the National Tour of "The Enormous Crocodile" (Photo by Danny Kaan)

In a parallel storyline, a “Jungle Juniors” scout troop is camping out in the same jungle, its leader and members performed by the same actors who play the animals. As the children explore their surroundings and try to climb trees to retrieve coconuts, the Enormous Crocodile gets closer to his goal, and hijinks ensue.

The show shines brightest in its audiovisual elements, including amazing puppets (co-designed by Toby Olié and Daisy Beattie), atmospheric set (Fly Davis) and lighting (Jessica Hung Han Yun) design, and colorful costumes (also Davis).

Ahmed Abdullahi Gallab’s music is catchy and fun, with kid-pleasing lyrics by Suhayla El-Bushra and Tom Brady. Sitting solo at a digital audio workstation, musical director Ben Kubiak does an admirable job creating the jungle ambience and performing the score (using Phij Adams’ musical technology and Ableton programming).

Alison Arnopp in the National Tour of "The Enormous Crocodile" (Photo by Danny Kaan)

Vocally, Ming and Stephen stand out within the cast, but the entire ensemble brings great energy and versatility to their performances. Emily Lim’s direction is dynamic, and the show moves at a brisk clip, with efficient transitions between scenes and songs.

Children in the audience are encouraged to chant along with the characters, engage in call-and-response, and even throw their “monkey nuts” (the foam peanuts) at the ravenous Crocodile. It’s this type of breaking the fourth wall that keeps the younger ones engaged. I took my 8-year-old to the show, and at one point, as the Crocodile moved menacingly toward the audience, he turned to me and said, “I don’t want to get eaten!”

From left: Taya Ming and Alison Arnopp in the National Tour of "The Enormous Crocodile" (Photo by Danny Kaan)

So, if you’d like to get your kids away from their screens and devices this holiday season, the show provides enough bodily-function humor to keep them giggling, while also delivering some solid interactive theatrical entertainment, all in just under an hour.

“The Enormous Crocodile” continues through Jan. 4 at the Kirk Douglas Theatre, 9820 Washington Blvd., Culver City, with shows Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 11 a.m., Thursdays at 7 p.m., Fridays at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., Saturdays at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., and Sundays at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. (but schedule varies during the holidays). For tickets and other information, visit CenterTheatreGroup.org or call the box office at (213) 628-2772. Run time 55 minutes with no intermission.