Madagascar - A Musical Adventure Jr (Dreamworks)

We were welcomed to this great production with a full cast number of ‘It’s Showtime’ and the stage was set for a great trip to Central Park Zoo…the problem was that some of the animals wanted to escape.  The musical is based on the very popular DreamWorks animated movie, Madagascar, and follows a group of animal friends as they go on an unexpected journey from their home in New York’s Central Park Zoo and find themselves in the madcap world of King Julien’s Madagascar.   

We joined Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe and Gloria the Hippo as they find themselves on a musical journey with great adventure.  The characters were all very well cast with some clever touches and wonderful characterisation.  Alex the Lion had a super roar and imposing stage presence, most definitely the king of the zoo.  When Marty the Zebra, best friend to Alex, decides it’s time to explore outside of captivity – everyone is taken along.  The actor playing Marty perfectly captured the curiosity which leads to their adventure.  Poor Melman, the hypochondriac giraffe, had some rather tricky phrases and medical descriptions, but this young actor did a great job.  Gloria was a very ‘hip’ hippo with lively moves.

The plotting penguins were really funny and all kept their toes turned out and arms outstretched in penguin pose whilst ever they were on stage, walking with super physicality – they all looked amazing.  Mason, the chimpanzee, was a confident young performer with a great voice who ensured everyone knew that he was definitely not without brains. When the friends arrive in Madagascar they meet King Julien, the leader of the Lemurs, and are quickly hailed hero’s for scaring away the Foosa.   King Julien took a great comedic role and along with all the Lemurs really entertained with their singing and dancing.

Ensuring you meet an audience’s high expectations with a stage show based on an animation is difficult, but Easy Street Juniors achieved this by ensuring the characters each had their own special dynamic.   Everyone on stage really worked hard whether it was the New Yorkers, the journalists, the zoo staff and all other animals they all added to the story with the confident ease acquired through working week-in and week-out at their youth theatre classes.

Costumes were creative and it was very innovative to adapt 'every day' clothes using additional material, colours and fabrics, along with an amazing zebra headdress - although i am not sure you could call the penguins tailcoats 'every day clothing'. The lighting captured the atmosphere of each scene perfectly and sound was good.  The projections worked well for this production and it all added to a fun and entertaining atmosphere. 

The whole production left the audience with no choice but to “Move It, Move It!” at the end - it really was a super show. Congratulations to the performers, Production Team and everyone involved who brought this great story to the Merlin Theatre.

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