Marmalade rules! Paddington: The Musical , about the beloved Peruvian bear, is previewing at London’s Savoy Theatre ahead of a gala official opening night on November 30 .

Director Luke Sheppard and his creative team are tasked with molding the show into shape by the end of the month. It’s doable if Sheppard can be ruthless in trimming a first act overstuffed with exposition and songs that you can’t hum. You can almost forgive all of that because, as soppy as it sounds, this bear’s adorable.

I’m reminded of director Trevor Nunn’s maxim: “That’s what previews are for — to get it right.”

Yeah, but doing it under pressure in the heart of the West End, and not in some remote spot outta town, won’t be easy.

The show, based on Michael Bond’s A Bear Called Paddington and StudioCana

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