Seems longer to be honest but at least I only have to wait 2 more weeks to see the show again when I make my first ever trip to the Hippodrome in Birmingham.
A much shorter journey thankfully and as they're in the Black Country for 4 weeks I couldn't resist booking to see it twice :)
Below is another 5 Star Review of this fantastic production. This one was written by Simon Duke for the Newcastle Chronicle:
Review: Shrek at Theatre Royal Newcastle
Trying to bring an animated icon to the stage could be viewed as either a thankless task because audiences will constantly compare the production to the film or a win win situation as people revel in seeing their favourite character take on a new lease of life whilst enjoying the things that struck a chord in the first instance.
Thankfully for tour director, former Eastenders actor Nigel Harman, the result is most definitely the latter.
The musical might not have a stand out song of the ilk of Defying Gravity, Any Dream Will Do or Memory but as a collective the musical score works incredibly well and allows each character’s personality traits to shine through.
Speaking of other shows, Shrek was like a game of I Spy for musical connoisseurs in the audience with not so subtle but highly entertaining nuances to the likes of Wicked, Dirty Dancing, The Lion King and West Side Story peppered in between its own memorable moments.
Having seen the show in London’s West End a few years ago and come out with an opinion of the show that was neither here nor there, I wasn’t sure if a second bite of the Shrek cherry would be any more satisfying but by gosh it was.
One of the main catalysts was the truly fantastic Faye Brookes as Princess Fiona. Every fairy tale needs a damsel in distress but while pandering to the stereotype in numbers like I Know It’s Today, Faye’s Fiona was anything but one dimensional.
The wit was there along with impeccable comic timing which combined to make Fiona a different brand of damsel entirely.
The Prince Charming to her Cinderella arrived of course in the form of a large, lovable green ogre by the name of Shrek and like Faye, Dean Chisnell was an absolute delight in the title role.
It would have very easy for Dean and his director to take Shrek full steam ahead down a purely comedic path but while there were bags of laughs with funny flatulence aplenty, there were also lots of sensitive moments and fine vocals in the likes of Big Bright Beautiful World and Who I’d Be.
In a production packed full of endearing characters another was Idriss Kargbo’s Donkey.
A charming concoction of cool and camp, Donkey, to coin a reality TV cliché, owned the stage. Everything from Idriss’ movement to the sassy delivery of his lines was perfect for the part.
Speaking of camp, there was also a generous helping of it from Gerard Carey’s Lord Farquaad. The tiny tyrant was fantastically well staged in a way that has to be seen to be believed and Gerard hammed it up to perfection.
The supporting cast including a local girl as Young Fiona and fairy tale favourites like Pinocchio, Little Red Riding Hood and a cross-dressing Big Bad Wolf were also on fine form which made song and dance numbers like This Is Our Story and encore I’m A Believer highly infectious.
And praise has to he heaped on the production team for the colourful and captivating staging- particularly Candance Furbert's feisty and fine voiced Dragon- which was another colourful ingredient to making Shrek the viewing pleasure it was.
You’ve got until Sunday, March 29 to catch Shrek at the Theatre Royal. You’ll regret if you don’t!
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