Laura Main as Princess Fiona and Steffan Harri as Shrek (Photo Helen Maybanks)
Performance Dates: 24/25 February 2018
Venue: New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham
Performance Run: 12 December 2017 – 06 January 2019
It’s safe to say that Shrek holds a special place in the hearts of children of the 80s and 90s. The movie, released in 2001, cemented DreamWorks’s position as a prime competitor to Disney whilst shamelessly mocking the fundamental model of Disney’s main offerings. For many, Shrek is the epitome of their childhood.
Shrek the Musical opened on Broadway in 2008, closing in 2010 after a run of over 12 months. A West End production with an all-star cast soon followed, housed, at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, ironically the home of the Muffin Man. Nigel Harman, most commonly remembered for his role as the doomed Dennis Rickmam in EastEnders, played the villainous Lord Farquaad. A UK tour, directed by Harman soon followed in 2014 with the second and current tour opening at the Edinburgh playhouse in December 2017.
Despite being based on the Oscar winning film, Shrek more than holds its own as a musical. Conveniently timed within the half term holiday, Shrek’s opened at the New Alexandra Theatre on 14 February 2018 much to the delight of the swathe of children in the audience. The adults were not forgotten thanks to an innuendo laden script with humour specifically designed to go right over the younger observers’ heads.
For the more seasoned theatre goers there were several nods to other famous musicals. Lord Farquaad’s Wicked riffs are a particular highlight. This is in addition to the not so sly digs at various fairy-tale conventions for which Shrek (and DreamWorks) are most well-known.
Call the Midwife actress, Laura Main steps in to the role of Fiona, bringing a zany and feisty personality to the beloved princess. Her turn as Fiona couldn’t be further from former nun Shelagh, the character she portrays in the hugely popular series.
Main fills Fiona’s shoes admirably and brings a new lease of life to the character, completely wiping the floor with Shrek in a ‘flatulence off’ during the number ‘I Think I Got You Beat’ much to the delight of the audience. She is also a powerhouse in the vocal department.
As for Shrek himself, Les Miserables alum, Steffan Harri, delivers a solid and charming performance as the grumpy ogre. Transformed into character through the incredible costume design of Tim Hately, Harri brings Shrek to life.
Fan favourite Donkey played by Marcus Ayton is sassy and full of the attitude we are accustomed to seeing from the iconic character. Ayton truly makes the role his own; he is an incredible vocalist and during his solo numbers commands the stage beautifully. His comic timing is also excellent and is not lost through his sly looks at the audience as the show progresses.
However, major kudos has to go to Samuel Holmes who brings the house down as the vertically challenged Lord Farquaad. Villainous and cruel in the movie, Holmes breathes new life into the character. Thanks to a clever costume, complete with comedy legs, Holmes spends the vast majority of his scenes scuttling across the stage on his knees. Holmes his nuanced looks, ridiculous costumes and the comic edge he gives to the vile Lord Farquaad makes him the stand out of the show.
The ensemble cast is impressively strong and hugely compliment the leads. Joseph Dockree excels as Pinocchio and is eerily true to the movie version of the character. Special mention also has to go to Jennifer Tierney who delivers staggering vocals as Mother Bear during the ensemble number ‘Freak Flag’. Her voice literally makes the audience sit up and take notice.
Shrek the Musical delivers some clever special effects, which for a touring production is ambitious. Credit has to go to the backstage team who co-ordinate the complex scene changes. The intricacies of their task are highlighted by the minimal room to manoeuvre behind the New Alexandra stage, which incidentally is the smallest venue on the tour.
This is emphasised by the fourteen foot dragon that is operated by four people dressed in black. Amazingly they give the dragon a life and a character of her own as she bats her eyes at Donkey. The puppetry is complimented by the impressive vocals of Lucina Shaw, the voice of the Dragon.
Seventeen years on, Shrek’s messages of diversity and tolerance are still as important now as they were back when the movie was released in 2001. This revitalised tour brings a new audience to the magic that is Shrek. As light hearted the musical is the underlying message that beauty is in the eye of the beholder is never more prevalent than it is today.
Fans of the movie will love the show, the plot is almost identical to the original film, however the music not. Indeed the only drawback is the marginally forgettable score.
Shrek the Musical is a fun production that doesn’t take itself too seriously, the strong and talented cast, save the show from slipping too far down the panto rabbit hole (and don’t even mention the puppets).
Overall the strength and energy of the cast and the clever, innovative staging of this tour make it a ‘laugh out loud’ success.
