Shrek Jr. The Musical

Many thanks to Across the Boards Theatre School for inviting me to their production of Shrek Jr. The Musical at The Leyton Institute on Saturday 13th Jan 2024. This production is a revised version of the musical based on the nostalgic film of the same name & tells an unconventional fairytale whereby the Ogre is the protagonist, true love is not measured at skin-depth & the demonic dragon is a part of the love interest of the sub-plot. 

Creative was undertaken by Anna Cross. The performance was constructed well & had a high, vibrant energy throughout, which was amplified using in-house created animations which the settings were presented on 3 full-stage height screens, leaving the full stage clear to fill with the performers. The seating area was presented in a cabaret style, which immediately presented the piece informally to the the audience. This style was creatively used within the production whereby the fourth wall was broken & the audience’s area became a part of the action, such as when Shrek escaped the dragon’s lair was seeking out Princess Fiona’s tower in the audience. Choreography was to a proficient level and added to the energetic feel to the production. What I loved about the choreography was how Anna found a way to demonstrate the technical competence of her students across differing techniques within the seams of the narrative, which included jazz, tap, lyrical, street & acro. This stood out to me as the show therefore not only told the story, but also gave a glimpse into the genres elements her students are developing skills within. Musical direction was sound & to clicks, the performers did not shy away from embracing all numbers, at times with some nice vocal harmonies introduced. At times, I did feel the volume of clicks a little loud, especially when played alongside dialogue, but this could have also been mitigated through diction, projection & pace. The scenic design was fabulous throughout & helped situate each of the scenes as well as adding a cartoonesque feel, which suited the work nicely. Lighting matched the vibrant feel of the production. Costumes were also to a good standard & were reflective of the characters, especially those with familiar names, & the overall feel of the production. 

The cast worked hard throughout the performance & my guest & I had a wonderful evening of entertainment. I personally was laughing from my belly, which was much needed & a great kick off to the 2024 season for D2 Youth Theatre, brushing off some of those January cobwebs.  Firstly, I would like to state that all the cast were fully committed to the production. There was so much enthusiasm and passion from every individual, it was hard not to sit grinning from start to finish. As expected with youth performances with such vast age range, there were differing levels of experience & proficiency within the cast. Every person on the stage should be extremely proud of what they collectively achieved. It looked as though every single cast member was having the best time. 

Lola Connor Emmott led the show with finesse from start to finish. She encompassed the character physically, really absolving herself into part & she did not faulter from the Scottish accent which she donned for the part, ensuring her version of this character was recognisable. She was sound in song & had opportunity to demonstrate her highly technical ability within dance.  

Holly Eliza Cross gave an energetic performance as the Donkey. I loved the detail that was added into the physicality, such as the repeated use of flexion of the wrists at rest to represent the hooves. Her dance ability was also highlighted throughout her acting & moments in song. 

(The grown) Princess Fiona was played by Bethany Harrison who showed some excellence within acting and acting through song, particularly through adding some utterly hilarious moments of comedy. A clear example of this was the "bipolar” moment was so clearly executed physically & facially, I was in stitches. Bethany also has a great singing voice & showed this well throughout. Teen Fiona & Young Fiona were played by Rose Parry & Arla Thompson were perfectly cast, gave strong performances & are defiantly ones to watch for the future!  

Lord Farquaad was played by Willam Hitchins & showed some fine acting skills bringing this larger-than-life personality to the shorter than most character. I loved the effort which went into playing character on knees, & there were some great silhouettes created bring the pomp & arrogance of the to the stage.  

Patience Cosgrove really shone as the Dragon, adding some deep grit & belt to the vocals & sassing the part out to its maximum whilst doing so! 

Arthur Geraghty stole the show for me playing Cockrel & Grumpy Dwarf. Cockerel was used within the show to depict time shifts from night to morning. I have never in my life heard the phrase “Cock-a-doodle-doo” said with such charm and enthusiasm. When he marched on telling Lord Farquaad some home truths, I was done and again in stitches!  

My other key call outs go to Amelia Holloway, who played a whopping 8 characters, each with their individual characterisations and personifications.  Alex Hitchins & Elyssa Rowell stood out for their characterisations of Gingy & Pinocchio. 

Thanks again to Across the Boards for a great evening of entertainment. I wish all the cast & production team the absolute best for the future. 

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