Dean Chisnall and Faye Brookes in the touring production of Shrek the Musical at the Grand Theatre, Leeds. Picture: Helen Maybanks
Shrek the Musical continues at the Grand Theatre, Leeds to 17 August, then tours until September 2015.
Shrek, the grumpy green ogre who was the unlikely love interest in the vastly popular DreamWorks movie and the Theatre Royal Drury Lane production in 2011, has plenty to grouch about, including being booted out of his home aged seven and warned to watch out for people with pitchforks. But he couldn’t possibly raise even the faintest grumble about the touring version of Shrek the Musical (directed by previous West End Lord Farquaad Nigel Harman), which has just opened at the Grand Theatre, Leeds. From the first glimpse of the cartoon-style forest set to the last rousing boogie beat of closing number ‘I’m a Believer’, this is big-hearted musical theatre that ramps up the feelgood factor and leaves its audience grinning from ear to ear.
The cast of fairytale characters is brought to life in large, loud brushstrokes that make the most of the fun factor in a story that turns traditional fairytales on their head and whose romantic love duet (‘I Think I Got You Beat’) has a soundtrack of burps and farts.
Broad humour and offbeat charm are the hallmarks of this production. Dean Chisnall, reprising the Shrek role from the Drury Lane production, is entirely loveable and the big beating heart of a larger-than-life show as he convinces the audience as well as Princess Fiona that a flatulent green hulk with a broad Scottish accent might just be the perfect partner.
Faye Brookes is a delightfully feisty Princess Fiona, with the soul of a sassy showgirl underneath her constricting princess costume. Young actor Idriss Kargbo’s Donkey, initially overshadowed by comparisons with Eddie Murphy’s stellar film interpretation, makes it through on the strength of his own fine, funny performance. And channelling Laurence Olivier in Richard III as the loathsome Lord Farquaard, Gerard Carey (on his knees and with the aid of prop legs for his vertically-challenged character) steals the show with comic antics every time his character puts in an appearance. The rest of the talented cast members, who energetically multi-task their way through a variety of roles that include puppetry – a breathtaking giant dragon that requires four operators – are no slouches in the song and dance department.
The routines owe their brightly coloured aesthetic to vintage Disney, 1930s Hollywood musicals and, inevitably, The Wizard of Oz. Despite their bulky costumes, the tight cast hoofs its way at a fairly relentless pace through the fast-paced show with a joie de vivre that makes up for the fact that there are no standout musical numbers in David Lindsay-Abaire and Jeanine Tesori’s pleasing but not memorable score
As modern fairytales go, the touring version of Shrek is a delight. It all makes for an enchanted, and enchanting evening. We’re all a believer in happy ever after at the end of this terrific show. Farts and all.
Tina Jackson
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