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(Reviewed at the preview performance on 19th May 2011).
SOME CAST MEMBERS HAVE NOW LEFT THE PRODUCTION.
Swamp the box office, ‘Shrek: The Musical’ is Fe Fi Fo Fun for
everybody aged 8 to 80. The show is strong enough to tame even the nosiest and
most fidgety youngsters from the moment it begins in traditional fairytale
manner, with a storybook opening; until the curtain falls in equally traditional
fairytale manner - the happy couple belting out a song with their wedding
guests.
The openings of both first and second acts are unmissable. In
fact, even the pre-curtain announcement bears arriving early for. Act 1’s
delightfully cruel “Big Bright Beautiful World” neatly sets up the entire show,
while Amanda Holden’s act two opener “Morning Person” is an hysterically
inventive song and dance number.
In between, there’s the cutest dragon on the planet (awesome
puppetry skills), every type of joke from clever and puerile to filthy and daft,
plus some brilliant ‘in’ humour slyly referencing a string of other musicals.
Under cartoon bright lighting a beautifully costumed bunch of familiar storybook
characters play out a simple tale with vigour on a neatly realised comic book
set.
Sit close to absorb the wonderful details cast and production
bring together – visual and costume gags abound (ruby boots, anybody?!); then
see it again from a distance to take in the overall spectacle. Along with 2500
others, the monkey spent 19th May 2011 alternately roaring helplessly at a
well-crafted one liner or concentrating eagerly on the next surprise in music,
set, costume and choreography.
As Shrek, Nigel Lindsay oozes Scottish charm from the start.
Inside impressive costuming, he manages to navigate a satisfying emotional
journey through the evening; despite Richard Blackwood’s Donkey exasperating him
at almost every turn. For the baddies, Nigel Harman steals every scene he is
given as the vertically (and cerebrally) challenged Lord Farquaad, with the best
of the show’s comedy in every one. Watch out for his horse, a neat sound cue if
you catch it.
(2)
Other revelations of the evening are Amanda Holden’s Princess
and the youngsters appearing as Young Fiona, Young Shrek and the Dwarf. Holden
proves she can time a comic line, singing and dancing with the best. Already
coping with an effective costume change, the monkey also hopes that she is given
some green tights for her final bow – the green top / white legs looked strange
as she curtseyed…
At the performance the monkey saw, Emilia Jones as Young Fiona
and Chorlene Biron-Monnier as Young Shrek belied their ages with some mature and
charming work. Jones in particular already has a longer list of credits than
some adult cast members, and the experience showed – particularly in her vocals
and final air guitar moment.
While sophisticated musical theatre fans will doubtless relegate
this evening to the “Into The Woods For Dummies” category – and indeed much of
the music lands best on a second hearing – for everybody else there’s plenty to
enjoy. It’s way above even the smartest panto, and very much more original than
West End contemporary “The Wizard Of Oz.” Rather like its other neighbour “The
Lion King,” “Shrek The Musical” has found a unique theatrical voice, This Green
will beat any blues.
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