Shrek the Musical
A true gem of a show, faithful to the film’s roots, and yet still honouring its core message that it is OK to be different.
Norwich Theatre
It was 2008 when Shrek and his Dreamworks friends first trod the Broadway stage, a full seven years after the original film was released. Jeanine Tesori's musical adaptation transferred to the West End in 2011. Now, the green ogre with a heart of gold is in Norwich all this week at Norwich Theatre Royal. And it is a show for children of all ages – from pre-school to old-age pension – and the complete gamut were in the house tonight on what was, after all, an evening performance on a school night.
The show, directed by Samuel Holmes and Nick Winston, is everything that you could wish it to be - a colourful and delightfully comedic romp that takes us to the world of Shrek's smelly swamp, deep into the lair of the dragon that guards the imprisoned Princess Fiona, and on to the court of the villainous Lord Farquaad.
The task of filling Shrek's big green boots falls to Antony Lawrence, who encapsulates perfectly the essence of the gentle ogre as he learns to love and share, and Lawrence sings and dances his way impressively through the entire show despite that heavy costume and mask. His performance of 'Who I'd Be' is a powerful closer to Act 1, and yet is contrasted charmingly in 'I Think I Got You Beat', his playful duet with Princess Fiona at the beginning of Act 2.
Princess Fiona was played tonight by Imogen Bailey, who was impressive in bringing to life the part of beautiful princess / nocturnal ogre. Her bright and breezy ‘Morning Person’ is an absolute treat. But it is Brandon Lee Sears (as Donkey) and James Gillan (as Lord Farquaad) who really play to the audience, and subsequently get the laughs. Gillan delivers his slightly camp evilness with a blend of Rik Mayall and Freddie Mercury that is pure magic, whilst Sears channels his asinine exuberances with a cocky confidence of which Eddie Murphy would be proud. Cherece Richards adds her own splash of colour as both the Dragon (with some wonderful additional puppetry) and the Wicked Witch, and all of our favourite nursery rhyme characters are present, each recreating their own sense of chaotic fun. ‘Shrek the Musical’ truly charms us on all fronts.
But, as one would expect from such a strong stage production, it is the songs (with music by Jeanine Tesori and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire) that ensure that we leave the theatre with melodies and songs still spinning around inside our heads. The seven piece band, led by Richard Atkinson, really manage to fill the auditorium with sound. But of course, it is the audience-on-their-feet finale, with the entire cast singing along to the old Monkees' hit, 'I'm A Believer', that we were still jigging around to as we left the auditorium. Shrek the Musical is a show for children of all ages – from pre-school to old-age pension – and the complete gamut were in the house tonight on what was, after all, an evening performance on a school night.
Philip Witcomb's set design may rely rather heavily on computer graphics, but his costumes are a technicolour delight. Nick Winston's choreography sparkles, enabling these much-loved characters to come to life with fairy-tale believability. And the entire cast hold us spellbound from start to finish. ’Shrek the Musical’ is a true gem of a show, faithful to the film’s roots, and yet still honouring its core message that it is OK to be different.
'Shrek the Musical' is at Norwich Theatre Royal until Saturday March 30th. It then continues its tour of UK theatres, returning to the West End for a six-week run in July and August.
