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. 

Pamela Raith

The show’s stage was incredible but the dialogue left something to be desired[/caption]

Pamela Raith

Lyla, eight, said she wouldn’t go back to see the show[/caption]

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. 

Pamela Raith

Shrek is a firm family favourite in Veronica’s household[/caption]

Pamela Raith

While the cast had good voices, the qualtiy of the script left them struggling[/caption]

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.

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’. 

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Shrek The Musical

★★

Eventim Apollo, London

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