The Lorax, The Old Vic ****

The issue of global warming is addressed in David Greig's adaptation of Dr Seuss's famous story. The show tells the story of the Once-ler and how his obsession with making money destroys the Lorax's paradise. Through puppetry, the Lorax is brought to life with exceptional skill which always astonishes me.  From the Lion King to Avenue Q and now to this, how the skill of the puppeteers manage to give this inanimate object a life and personality of it's own is unimaginable. The story occasionally can feel the wrong side of preachy but this rarely happens and is a laugh right the way through. From jokes about the rhyming, which never gets tiresome, to music from Charlie Fink which is fun and jaunty, it's a brilliant family show. Rob Howell's set is colourful and captures your imagination with wonderful quirks like the trees and Once-ler tower. Simon Paisley- Day is a great Once-ler, emboying the problem of capitalism in a fun and jovial, turning sinister Once-ley whilst Simon Lipkin provides the Lorax with an animated and characterful voice which is a delight to watch. It's hard not to fall in love with a show so excellently crafted as this one.