Picture: Marc Brenner
Shrek was reviewed at the Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham where it runs until 14 April 2024. The tour continues until 4 May, followed by a London run at the Eventim Apollo from 19 July to 31 August.
Star rating: four stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ✩
The Shrek franchise was DreamWorks’ subversive attempt to parody the clichés of the fairy tales that we all grew up with and became a massive success (somehow nearly 25 years ago). Following in Disney’s footsteps, a stage adaptation was inevitable, which hit Broadway in 2008 and later London’s West End in 2011. Remaining faithful to the film’s narrative while incorporating an original score by Jeanine Tesori and David Lindsay-Abaire, the musical has been touring the country since autumn 2023 and the lovable green ogre’s journey took him this week to Birmingham’s Alexandra Theatre.
After being thrown out by his parents at the age of seven and then enduring many years of fearful persecution by the local villagers, green ogre Shrek (played here by Antony Lawrence) shuns human connection as much as he can, preferring his solitary life instead. When the flamboyant and diminutive Lord Farquaad (James Gillan) decrees that all fairy tale creatures must leave the kingdom, they descend on Shrek’s swamp with nowhere else to go.
Shrek visits Farquaad to demand his swamp back, which Farquaad agrees to, on the condition that Shrek rescues Princess Fiona (former Strictly dancer Joanne Clifton) from the highest room of a dragon-guarded tower, to make her his queen. Desperate for peace and solitude, Shrek reluctantly undertakes the mission, with wisecracking Donkey by his side (Brandon Lee Sears), but soon discovers that he might actually enjoy the company of others after all.
The jury may still be out as to whether Shrek “needed” to be turned into a musical (but then, does anything?), and Tesori’s score doesn’t really add much to the already-strong material, but as feel-good family entertainment, it delivers. Full of colour, invention and bodily-function humour, it’s a show that appeals to little and big kids alike and is a lot of fun.
The story does feel padded out at times to sustain its running time, and it could do with a couple more solidly memorable songs (although it is, without doubt, Tesori’s most accessible score), but the show delivers the film’s narrative in an engaging and lively way. Lindsay-Abaire’s lyrics are sharp and full of references to numerous other musicals, which show fans will love, and the ensemble sells the group numbers with an infectious energy, particularly outsider-anthem ‘Freak Flag’ and the ‘I’m a Believer’ finale which sends the audience out on a high.
Directed and choreographed by Nick Winston, the show impresses visually, with great set and costume design by Philip Witcomb, clever video design (Nina Dunn) and lighting (Ben Cracknell), although some of the show’s larger moments have been downscaled from previous productions, so anyone who saw the show at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane may feel a little underwhelmed by some scenes. However, such changes are inevitably necessary to allow productions to tour, and there’s still plenty here to enjoy. However, it must be said that Farquaad’s fate at the hands of Dragon is lazily delivered and falls far short of expectations for that moment, even considering forgivable touring limitations.
Lawrence leads the show well as Shrek, with a likeable animation and strong singing voice. Strangely for the lead character, he often takes a back seat to Donkey (Sears in fine form and putting his Dreamgirls Jimmy Early skills to fantastic use) and Fiona (Clifton defying “stunt casting” and being genuinely funny with a great belting voice). Other standouts are Georgie Buckland who not only gives great personality to the Gingerbread Man puppet but also shows off some impressive vocals, and also Mark D’Arcy as Pinocchio, nailing the mannerisms and really embodying the character.
Stealing the show from under everyone’s nose however is recent graduate Cherece Richards, who provides the singing voice of the dragon, and what a voice. Her range is seemingly endless and with power to match, she brings real fire to the mythical beast and is an absolute powerhouse to watch. We can only hope she goes on to great things as she’s undoubtedly a star in the making.
Theatre fans will love the references to other musicals, Shrek fans will love the faithfulness to the film’s beloved characters, and kids will love every joke around bodily-functions, of which there are many. High-brow culture it isn’t, but fun family entertainment it most certainly is. Shrek is a great alternative to the more sugary Disney fare, and with some excellent performances from Sears, Clifton and Richards, this musical’s appeal is far from “ogre”, and a great excuse to relive a childhood classic.
Rob Bartley
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