One thing is evident right from
curtain up in this fairytale spectacular.
It isn’t your regular hum-drum
screen-to-stage production with people simply dressing up.
Right from the off the actors on
stage become truly believable characters as they live and breathe the world of
Shrek, Princess Fiona, Lord Farquaad and Donkey.
The make-up and costumes are worthy
of a big-bucks, big-screen production. Dean Chisnall without his green make-up,
padded suit and doleful demeanour would easily pass as just another shopper if
you were to spot him away from the stage. But on it he’s Shrek; nothing more,
nothing less.
Gerard Carey as the diminutive
Farquaad shares the comic star turn with Idriss Kargbo as Donkey and the pair
could have been born for their roles, stuffed with one-liners, visual comedy and
the ability to simply deliver a great line.
Meanwhile, everyone’s favourite
princess, played by Faye Brookes, clearly enjoys her role gradually falling for
our straightforward ogre hero, who’s tasked with rescuing her from the
tower.
They soon discover they have much
more in common than they might ever have imagined, as they embark on their
journey of music, song – and the full host of nursery rhyme and fairy tale
characters wonderfully played by the ensemble. We have the Gingerbread man,
Pinocchio, the three little pigs, the three bears, Peter Pan (“Grow up!” he’s
told – “But I can’t!” comes the reply) and a somewhat camp wolf from Little Red
Riding Hood.
And here is the key. Shrek The
Musical is perfect pant material. Don’t be surprised to see it coming back again
one festive season.
Away from the story the show is
packed with gags and asides for the children, as well as another level for the
adults - which go straight over the kids’ heads.
Each of the superb songs carries the
story forward. They’re not there to fill any gaps or stretch out the show.
There’s not a single dud. They are great production numbers with tried and
tested harmony and techniques so that we’re treated to a couple of real
show-stoppers too, such as I Think I Got You Beat and The Ballad of Farquaad.
We’re treated to styles from 1940s musicals through to the 70s disco sounds
reminiscent of Carwash and beyond.
We’re also introduced to what must
be the most amazing stage dragon seen at the Theatre Royal, as our heroes battle
to rescue the princess.
But it’s the blossoming love story
between the main characters which leaves an imprint on the heart.
Down-to-earth Shrek is blind to his
qualities and as long as the princess is looking for her prince, she fails to
spot that she may already have found her true love.
Beauty isn’t always the same as
pretty, the script tells us. Perhaps you should get along to see for yourself.
With a rip-roaring finale, it’s no wonder this show is booked in for three weeks at the Theatre Royal on the back of its huge West End success.
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