Shrek The Musical falls flat and is more like am-dram panto that Dreamwork’s hit, but ending brought everyone together
The original Shrek film is a firm favourite in our family.
With its sharp, snappy dialogue, comedy characters and a healthy dose of toilet humour, you’d think it would be a cinch to transport it onto stage.
Especially when your target audience is aged around nine years old and fairly undemanding.
And from the moment we walked into the Hammersmith Apollo – it looked really promising.
The whole, huge, auditorium – which can seat more than 3,500, – was bathed in a Shrek-green light – and there were huge hanging branches of leaves all around the stage.
So far, so good.
With merchandise a plenty and thousands of excited children running around – as the booming opening bars began, I really thought we were in for an absolute treat.
But unfortunately for this parent/ogress – it was less than Shrektacular.
In fact, it was more like an am-dram panto version of the film – just with better props and makeup.
It follows the original screenplay fairly faithfully – Ogre rescues princess – princess has super ninja skills – the baddie is banished and they all live happily ever after – with the message BE YOURSELF hammered home at every opportunity.
But the edgy pizazz and clever in-jokes from the film seemed to be missing – or just didn’t land well in an audience mainly made up of youngsters.
And although the cast were doing their best – with some excellent singing voices – the script was letting them down. Todrick Hall was a very funny Donkey – but again, it seemed he didn’t have much to work with.
I’m not sure if it was Shrek’s makeup preventing much emotion from getting through, but he was a bit cumbersome and uncomfortable.
And throughout the show, when the focus wasn’t on the cast, they seemed a bit awkward.
There were a few bonkers scenes – Lord Farquart clearly in the closet, a dancing scene with the pied piper and his rats, and some slightly risqué conversations, that left me – and my two daughters – rather baffled.
But I appreciate I wasn’t the target audience – I have absolutely no doubt that the majority of children in there absolutely loved it.
There’s enough silliness to keep them entertained – and of course the toilet humour was hitting the mark – there were delighted faces all round when Fiona and Shrek have a fart-off.
And the computerised screen in the background was a good way of bringing more of the story to the show.
The finale – when the whole audience were encouraged to get up and dance, was probably the best bit.
The child's view
By Lyla Blurton, aged eight.
Shrek the Musical was a really lovely story, it did make me laugh and I liked some of the songs. I enjoyed the second half more because Shrek and the princess got married.
But I didn’t like when the princess was talking to donkey about herself and Shrek thought it was about him. It was also very loud and it was long.
The donkey was my favourite character because he was so funny.
In general, I would not see it again, but I think two to seven is the right age.
Rating: ★★★
But what often makes a successful catchy musical is a standout memorable song – one that often repeats throughout the performance – whether it’s a few bars or just the chorus.
Here the songs seemed too long, too wordy and too complicated. A bit like the script. A bit like the entire show in fact. Such a shame.
It feels like it needs a really good edit – two and a half hours (including an interval) for primary school kids is just too much.
And as for me – well most of the time I just felt like that ‘donkey on the edge’.
Shrek The Musical
★★
Eventim Apollo, London