Shrek’s new and vibrant life

Shrek the Musical, Palace, Manchester, to January 11

YOU might think the producers of this show were on a hiding to nothing, trying to replicate the humour and fun of the Shrek movies live on stage.

But as a live stage show, Shrek takes on a new and vibrant life, referencing other musicals, taking digs at itself and showing new ways to get great jokes and energy by exaggerating elements from the movie with the help of sharp songs with great and funny lyrics.

So Pinocchio’s wooden nose really does grow when he fibs and Lord Farquaad’s horse is called fibreglass because it’s, well, made of fibre glass (and beeps when reversing).

Shrek and Fiona indulge in a very noisy wind-breaking contest to break the ice and Lord Farquaad’s short stature becomes the big joke of the night, since actor Gerard Carey plays him with all the seething venom of the movie version, but does so by walking on his hidden knees, with bendy yellow legs (afixed to his knees) causing all kinds of hilarity when he moves athletically about the stage.

There are great dance routines too, again thanks to the ridiculousness of Farquaad, who at one point in his big routine “swings”, hand over hand, down a line of stave-wielding soldiers.

To explain the whole thing in print is to do the show a disservice, for the colour, the character reproductions, the smartness of the lyrics and dialogue, the visual jokes and the sheer energy of the music and personnel make this a great show for the family if panto isn’t your thing.

Some of the jokes go a bit over the heads of the youngest audience members, but they can laugh at Shrek and Donkey along the way, or watch the exploding bird or the impressive puppet dragon or the talking gingerbread man.

Dean Chisnall as an over-made-up Shrek, Faye Brookes as a fiesty to the point of bossiness Fiona and Idriss Kargbo as the hind-legs-walking donkey are great throughout — especially Faye Brookes, who manages to extend the range of the princess without turning her into a different character altogether.

Warmly recommended.