The sounds of the swamp greet us as we enter the auditorium at the Congress Theatre in Eastbourne. The amassed audience is a mixture of parents and grandparents escorting children, and adults that clearly remember the film of Shrek from their youth. A large, illuminated set piece dominates the stage and a gauze displays video content of the story book of Shrek. This coupled with the sound effects of the swamp and the sounds of the orchestra tuning up, create the perfect combination to add to our anticipation.
The show begins with young Shrek (Natasha Cayabyab) being sent away by his parents played by Scotty Armstrong and Jessica Lim, and right off the bat, a tone is set that continues throughout the show of seamlessly mixing the heart-breaking with the comedic.
A toilet door opens, and the grown-up Shrek (Anthony Lawrence) literally bursts onto the stage. Lawrence is well cast in this role and expertly leads this 23- strong cast with a mixture of strength, power and an unexpected vulnerability that makes him a great leading man. However, no fairytale hero is complete without a side kick and Brandon Lee Sears as Donkey delivers physicality, humour, and an abundance of energy that he sustains throughout the show. He makes it very easy to like this ‘noble steed’ and we root for him at every stage of the journey. The chemistry between Shrek and Donkey is easy and the banter feels genuine. Lawrence and Sears deliver their lines with great comedic timing and the audience respond well to their interactions. The script blends plenty of fart jokes for the kids with some more grown-up humour to amuse the adults and young and old can be heard chuckling and having a great time.
Shrek and Donkey finally reach Lord Farquaad’s castle and we are introduced to Lord Farquaad (James Gillan) Those who have seen the show before, will notice that Farquaad is not smaller in stature, as in previous productions, where he has been played by an actor on their knees with puppet legs. I feel that this gives Gillan a difficult job, as some of the humour of Farquaad doesn’t quite land. However, Gillan delivers a camp, sassy performance that is lots of fun and it comes complete with Farquaad’s signature hair flick.
The journey continues and Shrek and Donkey find themselves at the Dragon’s castle to rescue the princess. Cherece Richards is an absolute tour de force as Dragon and throughout the show she delivers a masterclass in mixing vocal power with vocal control. She showcases this power during ‘Forever’ which is a song that was added for the tour and replaces ‘Donkey Pot Pie.’ It is a real stand out moment during the show for me. The actual dragon is an elaborate puppet controlled by Remi Ferdinand, Jessica Lim and Georgie Buckland. The use of the puppet alongside the live actor is very enjoyable.
‘I Know It’s Today’ is always a showstopper in productions of Shrek, and today is no different. Meeting Princess Fiona as a young child, a teen and finally as an adult always brings the house down. Joanne Clifton as Princess Fiona is humorous, energetic and blends effortless vocals with excellent dance ability. Clifton brings out Princess Fiona’s quirky side and she is perfect for this role. This is especially evident in the Act 2 opener ‘Morning Person’ where Clifton confidently dances and sings alongside a company of tap-dancing mice.
Most productions rely on a strong ensemble, and this is most definitely the case in this show with some ensemble actors playing up to six roles. Mark D’Arcy as Pinocchio and Georgie Buckland as Gingy deliver stand out performances, both vocally and with their excellent characterisation. It is real a treat to see a version of the show where Pinocchio is such strong dancer and D’Arcy adds an extra dimension to the character with his dance and movement. Buckland has a vocal range to die for and delivers Gingy’s high pitched tone with ease.
The show is fast paced, and the set changes appear seamless as they move between locations with ease. They blend live set pieces with video content to give the show a filmic feel. Philip Witcomb’s set and costume design is very detailed and vibrant. This is no mean feat, considering that most members of the cast have several costume changes.
If I had one criticism of the show, it would be that I felt that transformation scene at the end could be made to be more magical, it felt rushed. I would love to see some of the creativity used earlier on in the show, to have Princess Fiona transform in front of our eyes on the stage.
In summary, Shrek the Musical is a feel-good show full of colour and fun. It sends a positive message of acceptance that I feel is important to share. The production manages to deliver a gut punch of emotion without taking itself too seriously and retains the silly humour that we enjoyed from the films. If you are looking for a light-hearted night out, that will make you smile and have you singing ‘I’m a Believer’ all the way home, then Shrek is the show for you.
You’ll be green with envy if you don’t visit this Big, Bright, Beautiful World.
**** 4 Stars