Shrek the Musical made its York debut on Monday 27th at the Grand Opera House, fulfilling all expectations with a performance tailored to adults and children alike.
The cast provided an energetic and passionate performance, with impressive dance numbers and songs that showcased the talents of both the main and wider cast.
Antony Lawrence gave an incredible performance as Shrek, offering a distinct and unforgettable rendition of the titular character, that was nevertheless faithful to the much-loved film franchise character. His balance of comedic, grumpy and outright heartbroken makes for a deeply nuanced depiction of the famous green ogre, and his tackling of the more emotional songs ‘Who I’d Be’ and ‘Words Fail’ was incredibly tear jerking.
Joanne Cliffton’s performance as Fiona too cannot be quickly forgotten, with impressive singing talent and a dynamic cohesion with her co-star Lawrence. Cliffton’s performance is energetic and honest, creating a princess who is, as Fiona sings in the finale, bratty, sweet, sassy and sappy: “a mess of contradictions in a dress.”
And we can’t forget about Shrek’s BFF Donkey, played by Brandon Lee Sears. From comedic one-liners to vulnerable appeals to loneliness, and some impressively acrobatic donkey kicks, everyone’s favourite talking ‘ass’ is perfectly at home on the Shrek-sized stage.
Among the powerful ensemble cast, Cherece Richards shone. Her ‘Dragon’ was unique and vocal, and the energy of the performance was helped in no small part by a dazzling costume and fiery set. The choice to have Richards shadowed by an enormous dynamic puppet, controlled by four cast members dressed in all black, was inspired. Really bringing to life the enormity of the popular film character, a concept that translated well onto the stage.
Some of the smaller film characters were lost in the adaptation, with a much smaller cast of Duloc inhabitants than in the original franchise. Whilst there was risk of feeling a lack with these changes for adaptation, it actually benefited the performance as a whole, as minor characters became memorable parts and the performers were given more time in these roles to make them their own.
The production is brought fully to life with an enormous set, creative costumes and a nonstop ensemble. With comedy, heart, and extraordinary dance numbers fully realised amongst this crew of ‘fairytale freaks’, the musical is full of fun for movie fans and families alike.
Ending with a perfectly interactive rendition of Smash Mouth’s ‘I’m A Believer’, this electric production works hard to make audiences believe in the fun of Shrek and the power of fairy-tales and musical fun.
Shrek the Musical continues to tour the UK until August 2024, with tickets available online. https://shrekuktour.com/#tour-dates