This is our review of Shrek The Musical at Liverpool‘s Empire Theatre. So, let’s take a look at Shrek The Musical!
Synopsis Of Shrek The Musical
This musical is based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks animated film. It tells the story of the ogre Shrek and his life-changing journey with a talking Donkey. Along the way, they meet a short-tempered lord and a feisty princess that change the course of their story. Featuring new songs written by Jeanie Tesori, this musical comedy is fit for all ages. Starring Tony Prince as Shrek, Jen Swanepoel as Fiona, Gareth Casey Morris as Donkey, Michael Pearson as Lord Farquaad, Sarah Mullis as Gingy, Frankee Mae McIver as Dragon, and Mikey Rowan as Pinocchio.
Analysis Of Shrek The Musical
This amateur performance by BOST Theatre Company is a treat for people of all ages. The cast includes 20 local school children and references to the Liverpool area, which is an appreciated addition to the production. Donkey (Gareth Casey Morris) and Lord Farquaad (Michael Pearson) provide comedy relief throughout the show. There are multiple moments that have the audience in hysterical laughter, including Donkey’s entrance in Act 1 and Lord Farquaad’s solo song What’s Up Duloc.
There are multiple jokes that are understood by adults in the room but aren’t understood by younger audience members. This is fitting with the original DreamWorks film that the musical is based on. For example, the line ‘do you think he’s compensating for something?’ always gets a humorous response from the adults in the audience.
The staging and set for the performance are wonderful. There are plenty of interactive moments where using the set increases the performance value. For example, flowers move when actors gestured to them from the other side of the stage.
Puppets
The Dragon puppet is well-moved and performed by puppeteers alongside actress Frankee Mae McIver. Both the puppet and actress move together seamlessly across the stage, drawing the audience’s attention. In addition, the tap section in Fiona’s song Morning Person is highly entertaining and performed very well by Jen Swanepoel and the chorus. The overall production of the show is high quality and greatly enjoyed by all audience members.
Though there were some mishaps in Friday night’s performance, this added to the show and increased the comedy element. For instance, there was a moment when Lord Farquaad almost falls while moving across the stage. This was wonderfully recovered and the facial expressions from the actor made it all the funnier.
Unfortunately, there were some technical difficulties during the production. Teen Fiona’s microphone wasn’t working during the song, I Know It’s Today. The actress projected extremely well to compensate for this issue, but in such a large theatre it was difficult for everyone to hear her, especially with the music drowning her out. Later on in the song when she comes back on stage, the microphone was working and we got to appreciate her wonderful singing voice. It was a shame that the actress wasn’t able to fully enjoy her moment to shine, but she did amazingly to work against the issues.
Summary
In closing, this production is a joy to watch. The audience is well entertained throughout with plenty of comedic moments and high-intensity musical numbers. All actors involved in the show perform their parts well and capture the attention of everyone in the room. The musical accompaniment is wonderful, leaving audiences humming tunes on their way out of the theatre. If you’re a lover of musical theatre and in need of a good laugh, Shrek The Musical is not to be missed!