Shrek The Musical has returned to Milton Keynes Theatre as part of its second UK tour with a fun family show that packs swamploads of laughs (and farts), writes Chris Gregg.
You might think it would be difficult to recreate an animated film on stage but with some very creative staging, this show retains a lot of the magic of the movie, from talking gingerbread men to gigantic dragons and the hilariously realised pint-sized stature of Lord Farquaad (Samuel Holmes).
Fans of the 2001 film (and William Steig's original book from 1990) will find the plot familiar but there are a few surprises, lots of new songs and Lord Farquaad is given a back-story which makes him a more rounded character, if no taller.
At the heart of the story is the romance between Shrek (Steffan Harri) and Princess Fiona (Call The Midwife's Laura Main), with both managing to make it completely believable so by the end of the story you do genuinely feel the happy ending.
Steffan Harri's Shrek has a pretty convincing Scottish accent and displays a range of emotions although he is somewhat upstaged by the brilliant Marcus Ayton who brings a ton of energy and sass to the role of Donkey.
Laura Main is also very good as Princess Fiona, performing some of the best original songs in the show, including a great scene where she charms the rats she passes in the morning with music. If only this was possible in Central Milton Keynes.
Stealing the show, though, is Samuel Holmes as Lord Farquaad who easily gets the most laughs with his attempts to move around the stage...
It would have been nice to have included a few more of the well known tracks from the film soundtrack, as the original songs were unfamiliar but there was a great singalong of I'm A Believer at the end and some great performances with the live band throughout.
This is a real feelgood show and the production has a 'homemade' charm which doesn't take itself too seriously so it's hard not to be swept up in the fun. By the end, the audience seemed to have had almost as much fun as the cast.
Shrek The Musical is at Milton Keynes Theatre until Sunday 5th August.
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