Shrek The Musical

Everyone these days has heard of Shrek, even if they haven’t seen the films, they have at least heard of the grumpy ogre with the talking donkey sidekick who finds love. Throw in all the fairytale characters along the way and you have a multicoloured cornucopia interspersed with songs and dances. 

BCMCS started the show with an open set which consisted of external castle walls with some central steps, a cut-out in the middle of the walls which housed a large video wall. They used minimal fixed scenery but dressed the set with a wooden horse on a truck, a door on a truck, a couple of flower planters, a half bed and door for Fiona’s turret room, a separate shed truck to do the silhouette scene and a final truck for the wedding altar. The scenery was moved quickly and quietly by stage crew and blackouts were minimal and kept short. 

The audience consisted of a lot of children and so, unfortunately, toilet trips, sweet rustling and general noise was at a peak, but the cast did not let it interrupt their telling of the story. Bravo!

Debs Lyons was the director and whole cast worked hard throughout the show. Jonny Cunliffe in the title role kept up a fabulous Scottish accent throughout the show - I particularly enjoyed his duet with Stevie-Leigh “I Think I Got You Beat”, you could see their chemistry - great work! A bit more light and shade with emotion from Shrek during his solo “When Words Fail” would have enhanced the number.

Joe Cunliffe as Donkey was strong vocally but I did feel that his characterisation was soft, the playfulness between him and Shrek is key and could have been explored more - I must however point out that the audience watching loved them anyway.

I was surprised to see a lot of the characters onstage with no make-up and no distinguishing features or prosthetics added. If you go with a no make-up look then the lights can wash the faces out. Fiona could have had an ogre nose, and on the night I was there one of the ears was exposed showing skin. 

The show was choreographed by Katherine Farrington, who had everyone involved and given a chance. The rats and Fiona tapping was fun and all the numbers were executed to a good level.

The audience loved Gareth Johns as Farquaad, he played up to them beautifully and if anyone could win an award for hair flicks it would be him. His vocals were delivered well, projection and diction was good, he coped well with the physical constrictions that his character requires - well done!

Rachel Whitehead as Dragon handled her wings well and gave us a good vocal performance, I was a little confused by the dragon costume, it was very much in two very separate parts, this made it look disjointed. However the 3 Blind Mice costumes were a terrific trio!  Emily Harvey as Humpty Dumpty delivered her dialogue well and managed the huge costume with aplomb. Jon Allen as Papa Bear gave a great characterisation and was in fine voice.

Stevie-Leigh Crossley (Fiona) captured my heart as soon as she burst onto the stage, working every inch - every head tilt, giggle, feisty flounce and eye flutter was perfectly placed, combine that with very strong, clear vocal, great diction and projection and good use of stage space and you know you are in safe hands – excellent!

David Wilson was Musical Director, the band under his baton was capably led, sound was very good .Congratulations BCMCS on your production, it is a huge undertaking but you did it.

Thank you for your hospitality and to your front of house team for encouraging myself and my guest to purchase our Princess tiaras - hope to see you all again soon. 

 

Claire Ashworth. NODA Rep

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