In 2001, a socially awkward ogre won audience’s hearts and together with his band of magical side-kicks, redefined fairy tale stereotypes. Almost 15 years later, fans of the much-loved franchise can revisit this heartwarming and quirky story in a live-action musical.
Musicals don’t always sit well with everyone and can get tedious especially for younger viewers. I’ve been bored in my fair share of musicals but I can honestly say that this KickStart production does not disappoint. Although playing homage to the original – complete with several key lines & scenes taken directly from the feature film – it is a standalone production and can be enjoyed by first-time viewers.
For those of you who haven’t heard of Shrek before (yes, you are in the minority), the story follows the journey of a multi-layered (think onion) and misunderstood ogre named Shrek. Living many comfortable years alone in a swamp, he suddenly finds himself surrounded by disgruntled fairy tale creatures, evicted from their homes by the show’s villain, Lord Farquaad. Together with an unlikely, talking donkey side-kick, he inadvertently gets enlisted in Lord Farquaad’s mission to rescue his intended princess, Princess Fiona, from a dragon-guarded tower. And this is where the heart of the story lies as we begin to learn that ‘princesses’ and ‘ogres’ are labels that don’t adequately define what’s beneath a character’s surface.
The adaptation follows quite closely to the original with well-written lyrics, creative puppetry and cleverly put-together set designs. The costume design and set design are quite inventive and definitely add to the enchantment of it all. Yet, the great hero of this story is a well-chosen cast. The show has great acting, choreography and some exceptional singing talent. Using a cast of varying ages, we see the depth of local, untapped talent that South Africa has. The standout performance for me was definitely Jessica Sole as Princess Fiona. Her singing was pretty good but her acting talent was impressive. It’s a tough feat to be quirky, feisty, funny and vulnerable in one performance. It’s a shame that Lyle Buxton (Shrek) was slightly outshone by his supporting cast, given that he did play the title character and gave a pretty convincing performance as well, right down to Mike Myers-style Scottish accent. The problem is that Sole, Rory Booth (Donkey) and Jacobus van Heerden (Lord Farquaad) steal the show with memorable performances especially van Heerden, who had to spend much of his routines dancing around on his shins to ensure that he looked like the diminutive villain. That being said, the cast as a whole gave excellent performances and succeeded in transporting you to Duloc.
All round, this was a fun, family-friendly show that appeals to fans of the franchise and newbies alike with funny surprises in the lyrics (so play close attention).
Booking is now open at Computicket. For block bookings of 10 or more, contact Ailsa Windsor of Going Places: 083 250 2690 or editor.goingplacessa@gmail.com
Tues-Sat: 7pm
Sat and Sun: 2.30pm
NO CHILDREN UNDER 4 YEARS
Duration: 2 hours 30 min including 20 minute interval
Discounted tickets, and family packages for family of four / five people offered for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday performances @ 7pm, until 18 June.
There is a special Youth Day performance on Tuesday 16 June at 1.30pm.
