I'm not 100% sure what I was expecting from this show -- considering I've only ever seen the movie and knew that none of the music from that soundtrack would be in the musical ... but to be blown away by an almost Broadway-esque production? Now THAT I was not expecting and was a truly wonderful surprise!!
The make-up and costumes in particular were quite spectacular -- bright, colourful, unique. The lighting and sound were great, never missed a cue. The songs were inventive and catchy. And the overall atmosphere, despite my coughing and spluttering through the entire show due to laryngitis/bronchitis, not to mention being surrounded by a thousand school children at a midday mid-week performance, very much wowed me.
Although I recognised more than half the actors from other shows I've seen over the past few years, I did find the stage to be somewhat crowded at times ... read: too many characters fighting for the same space … it got a bit confusing who was who and what they were talking about.
However, as always it is the male leads who will either make or break a show for me. Thankfully, William Hopkins (Shrek) and Caleb Di Pomponio (Donkey) blew me out of the water -- Caleb in particular, has never disappointed in any show I've seen him in. He’s brilliant!!!! But the biggest surprise of all? Ranae Miller (Princess Fiona) -- she has failed to impress me in the half dozen shows I've seen her in previously, but in this particular production she really came into her own, and I was very happy to see her tonal range and general singing ability really hitting everything in the right place this time around. Oh, and Cathy Wilmot? Outstanding as ever, this time playing Dragon. Well done!!
However, it's easy enough for me to give this show 5 stars without any of the stuff I’ve mentioned above ... any production with at least one tap-dancing number gets two thumbs up from me :D
A fabulous show which I would highly recommend to people of all ages!