‘Shrek’ is one of the greatest animated films of the twenty-first century. It has an iconic soundtrack, one-liners which will imprint into your brain and characters ripe enough to sustain a franchise nearing its fifth iteration. ‘Shrek’ has a spirit so strong it has created themed raves and immersive experiences. You’d be forgiven for thinking that anything ‘Shrek’ related would be good. But you’d be wrong.
First seen in London way back in 2011 and now returning as part of a UK tour, this adaptation of the 2001 film now feels like a high camp panto gone wrong. The show opens up with baby orge Shrek being waved off into the big bad world, but from there onwards, the first half was in verbatim with the film – though the classic lines – ‘heading the right way for a smacked bottom’ and ‘ogres are like onions’ – fell flat, not least helped by the abysmally butchered Scottish (if you can call it that) accent of Antony Lawrence’s Shrek. Even his roars lacked oomf.
The arrival of a cuntified Lord Farquaad, played by James Gillan, who wore gold sequined hot pants and zoomed into his wedding on a scooter, was some welcomed light relief from the chaos – and Cherece Richards, playing the dragon, had vocals which just about made up for the humdrum singing and accompanying soundtrack. The costumes were good and the stage design was fine. For kids, there are plenty of rude burp and fart scenes. And the casting of singer-songwriter Todrick Hall – who pranced around, practically carrying the whole production in his furry jumpsuit – garnered genuine laughs from the audience as one of the only convincing and likeable characters.
There were odd attempts to make it all seem relevant – referencing ‘Baby Reindeer’ and Deliveroo – but for the most part, it felt like a bad school play. The musical numbers lacked punch and even the big, ending numbers weren’t catchy or particularly uplifting – bar ‘I’m a Believer’, which was played at the end for the audience to walk (or run) out to.