SHREK THE MUSICAL

Thank you to your Chairman, Angela, who made us very welcome. A great treat talking to her with her many years of experience in amateur theatre.

As with any production, the costumes need to be right; even more so when the characters are familiar to the audience from another medium (in this case, film). Great effort was made in this production, and it paid off.

From entering the auditorium, the atmosphere was created with a wonderful open set of the Swamp with leaves and trees including a cloth pelmet and wonderful to see the theatre revamped, the improvements, both seen, and unseen are impressive, so congratulations to all concerned! 

The show started with the young Shrek and his parents when they brutally explained that he must now find his own way in a hostile world. And then the side door opened, and an impressive full-size Shrek appeared, a towering figure who took command and was believable from the start, as the Shrek we have grown to love and with a super singing voice to match 

Princess Fiona looked great and had a very good voice. She got the feisty character just right, the similarity of the two childhoods was very clear and the scene with the three Fiona’s was very well done and very touching.

Donkey gave a wonderful performance and got it just right his expressions and voice were brilliant, a faultless bit of acting.

Lord Farquaad must have had reinforced knees; his wonderful entrance was spectacular, his timing was good, a great performance from beginning to end!  He certainly fulfilled the rule that a truly successful comic part requires it to be played very seriously to be truly funny.

The other characters, too many to mention, all did so well and looked brilliant, most of them playing several parts with great energy. Pinocchio’s voice was very effective and although high pitched (his throat must have been quite sore by the end of the performance) every word was clear and he never let up for one second! the same with Gingy, great performance!

The Costumes were very good and colourful, the entrance of Farquaad with the girls in blond wigs and red and blue uniforms almost stole the show, and the tap-dancing rats were splendid. The choreography was very good indeed, slick and pacy, a difficult stage to manage when most of the characters are on stage at the same time, due to the steps in the middle.

The dragon was a masterpiece, beautifully managed by the puppet masters, large, imposing and scary, belching out smoke. The improbable love she developed for Donkey, not only saved everyone from being eaten but showed in her soulful eyes and mannerisms. Very clever.

   The Band sounded very good under an experienced musical director, along with great singing and choreography to match 

This was a super show and great to see the company back after a two-year absence in your wonderful, revamped theatre, a happy, colourful, and jolly romp. Just what we all needed after a couple of gloomy years. My congratulations to the Director, Musical Director and the backstage people along with the great cast.  I cannot wait for your next production bring it on!

Graham Liverton 

Regional Councillor NODA Southwest

 

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