There’s always something magical about a theatre production that can draw you in even when the curtains are closed. Shrek the Musical achieved this as audience members of all age ranges hurriedly took their seats before a glistening and enchanting swamp set up.
All of this is thanks to the phenomenal set design by Philip Witcomb (Bonnie & Clyde) and the lighting design by Ben Cracknell (The Wizard of Oz). The play opens with the stories and characters we know and love in all their signature costumes. You could almost hear the gasps of horror and joy as Shrek, played by Anthony Lawrence (Lion King International), thumped on stage.
His huge green ogre-ness (a make-up process that takes 2-and-a-half hours) is brought to life with incredible detail, from his huge hands to his chunky boots. However, it is not until the much-anticipated character of Donkey, played by Todrick Hall (The Color Purple), enters on-stage that we are fully invested. This is because the dynamic between the two actors allows their characters to bounce off each other seamlessly with one-liners and humour we’re all too familiar with. It’s these moments when you realise there really is no Shrek without Donkey.
Of course, there was no better complement to this duo than with the character of Princess Fiona, played by Joanne Clifton (The Addams Family). Clifton brought to life the familiarly fierce and determined energy of Princess Fiona while also helping to bring out the delicate layers of Shrek’s character.
When watching Shrek the Musical, it’s clear that this is a show where directors Samuel Holmes (Into the Woods, performer) and Nick Winston (Bonnie & Clyde) thought about how they could tap into the fan base of the older generation’s subconscious i.e.“how can we truly camp this up.”
This was most apparent with their version of Lord Farquaad, played by James Gillan (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie). His story alone could have been a musical as dancers owned the stage and played with their sexuality in a way that was entertaining for all and witty enough to go over children’s heads when needed. Lord Farquaad and his army are already memorable characters from the movie, but the musical finds a way to make them their own, something you need to see to believe, and you won’t be disappointed.
There’s no doubt that every scene is carefully thought out. While I think (despite it being a musical) there could have been even more dialogue, there are some captivating songs and performances where the audience could not help but rush to their feet with applause. We see this in scenes you would not expect, such as the mind-blowing performance from Cherece Richard’s (Sweeney Todd) character as the dragon guarding Princess Fiona in her tower. A character who was voiceless in the movie and suddenly felt relatable.
Overall, Shrek the Musical is an electrifying show that bellows out the audience’s favourite tunes and catchphrases while still being fresh and incredibly tongue-in-cheek.
It’s the Shrek we know and love with even more quirks than we could have imagined.
Need to know: Shrek the Musical plays at Eventim Apollo until 31 Aug 2024
