Review by Melissa See How They Run is the debut production of Professor Flitwick actor Warwick Davis's Reduced Height Theatre Company, and is the star's first venture as producer. The company consisting solely of actors 4 foot tall and under, and aims to give shorter actors equal opportunities in theatre. The show is currently midway through its UK tour with future locations including Plymouth and Manchester before concluding in Cardiff on May 10.
Originally shown in London's West End in 1945,
See How They Run is written by playwright Phillip King who aimed to provide light entertainment during World War 2. The British farce, set in a vicarage, stars Davis as Reverend Lionel Toop. It was clear that what drew people to the production was Warwick Davis himself, who received a round of applause the moment he first stepped on stage. Davis' involvement was also the reason for my initial interest in the play, but I was quickly immersed due to the outstanding performances across the board.
Any doubts about a cast entirely composed of smaller sized actors were quickly cast out the window. Fantastic acting, combined with the scaled down sets created by theatre designer Barney George, made it very easy to forget that the play was being performed by a shorter cast. The direction of Eric Potts helps keep the play together whilst the plot gets increasingly wackier and larger than life. I believe that the play would be more suitable to a slightly older audience in order for it to be appreciated fully, but the outstanding comic timing made by the actors provides laughter for the whole family throughout.
As well as Warwick Davis, the production also stars Phil Holden, Jamie John and Ray Griffiths, who played Gringotts’ goblins in
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2, as well as Jon Key who played Bogrod, the bank teller under the Imperius curse during the break-in of Bellatrix Lestrange's vault. They are joined by Rachel Denning, Francesca Mills, Francesca Papagno and Peter Bonner who round out the cast.
The Reduced Height Theatre Company certainly put on a good play at the almost sold out Richmond Theatre, where a well deserved standing ovation at the end of the play proved that the size of the cast really didn’t matter. Davis' Reduced Height Theatre Company is most definitely a success and I for one am looking forward to seeing what the talented group of short actors do next.