Shrek the Musical – Blackpool Opera House & Touring

Steffan Harri and Amelia Lily in Shrek the Musical at Blackpool Opera House & Touring. Picture: Tristram Kent

Shrek the Musical continues at Blackpool Opera House until 27 May 2018 as part of a national tour.

Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Time was when a major musical of this scale would have filled the Opera House stage (if not the spacious auditorium itself) for the best part of a summer season (think the game-changing Mamma Mia! run of a few years ago) rather than sneaking in for just under a fortnight before schools have really thought of their long break.

Mind you, time was when a major musical of this scale would have more than likely involved siblings seeking virgin brides or their brother’s multi-coloured garments rather than a grumpy green ogre, a talkative streetwise donkey and a supporting cast of fairy tale and nursery rhyme characters banished from a land ruled by a height-challenged prince in pursuit of a feisty bride.

But anyone who has traced the history of Shrek from William Steig’s 1990 picture book homage to nursery land folk through to the smash hit 2001 DreamWorks film and onto the unlikely but delightful stage musical will know to expect the unexpected.

For starters the homage has now extended from fairy tales to include choreographed nods to West End/Broadway musicals and Hollywood blockbusters in a sort of Mel Brooks meets the Muppets mash-up.

Given the storyline and the show’s history it’s got to be difficult for any cast member to stamp much of their own personality onto their role. Full marks then to Samuel Holmes who has put his recent tour as George in The Wedding Singer well behind him to spend his latest trek in Shrek on his knees in the demanding but hilarious (when handled as well as this) role of the pint-sized Lord Farquaad. Perfect comic timing.

Amelia Lily has stepped easily into the shoes of Princess Fiona. It’s around seven years since she finished third in the eighth series X Factor – and more recently runner-up in the 2017 edition of Celebrity Big Brother ­­– but she has already shown her mettle in the likes of Shout! and American Idiot. Her voice is amply big enough to fill this big theatre and her personality shines as the feisty princess – with a good sense of fun too.

Marcus Ayton is more than capable of overcoming memories of Eddie Murphy as Donkey to make the role his own and it’s good to see Steffan Harri rising through the ranks to take on the title role (he covered the role of Farquaad in the first UK tour of the show).

It’s not a musical awash with familiar hit songs but it is a show full of excellent voices (that’s got to be the most soulful and realistic dragon this side of St George) – and ensemble numbers are superb, especially ‘Freak Flag’ and the inevitable finale of ‘I’m A Believer’ (well, it’s a sight more interesting than the usual megamix!).

Adults love the in-jokes, youngsters adore the flatulence duet and isn’t everyone a sucker for a royal wedding? Maybe not, unless of course they brought in director Nigel Harman to make it all as speedy and seamless as this production. Full marks all round.

 Robin Duke