Shrek The Musical, New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham - review with pictures

The DreamWorks animated movie hit which was transformed into a Broadway and West End show is back on stage in Birmingham and provides the ideal half-term treat at the New Alexandra Theatre.

Certainly the many children in the audience delighted in the slapstick comedy, colourful costumes and special effects, whilst the grown-ups could chuckle at a witty script packed with digs at fairy tale conventions, the occasional innuendo and some surreal dance routines - tap dancing rats anyone?

The story revolves around grumpy ogre Shrek and his quest to rescue the Princess Fiona. In return height-challenged tyrant Lord Farquaad promises to allow back into his kingdom of Duloc an assortment of fairy tale characters ('freaks' as he calls them) that were forced to become squatters in Shrek's swamp after their eviction. Along the way the big green fellow reluctantly accepts a talking donkey as his travelling companion.

Ingenious effects and sets incorporating projections combine with an energetic cast to give this show a lively cartoonish quality. But it also works as a musical because Jeanine Tesori has created some excellent tunes for David Lindsay-Abaire's sharp lyrics.

Musical theatre fans can tick off the many cheeky references to famous musicals, including Wicked, Chicago, The Lion King, Les Miserables and even a nod to Romeo and Juliet.

This touring production also has a cast that can really deliver the songs. Steffan Harri is in fine voice as our rotund hero. Laura Main (you may recognise her from TV's Call The Midwife) is a fabulously feisty Princess Fiona, more than holding her own in a flatulence contest with Shrek - that scene is a big hit with the kids. Both are almost upstaged by Marcus Ayton as the ee-awesome Donkey, a singing dancing ass with sass.

However, most laughs come from Samuel Holmes as the short-tempered Farquaad, scuttling across the stage and doing the most outrageous comic tricks with his little legs. The actor is not three and half feet tall so one can assume he has sore knees by the end of the performance.

Of the other fairy tale characters, Joseph Dockree has a superb costume with growing nose as Pinocchio and the giant puppet dragon is given a real soul power vocal by Lucinda Shaw. Even the hot-tempered Gingy the Gingerbread Man gets involved with a little help from Jemma Revell's Sugar Plum Fairy.

With a theme about acceptance of diversity and Shrek's poignant line that beautiful doesn't have to mean pretty, this is a feel-good show that has its heart in the right place.

And it ends in party mood with the audience invited to join the cast in a rendition of hit song I'm A Believer... 'I thought love was only true in fairy tales'.

If you liked the movie, you'll love this show. Shrek continues at the Alex until Sunday, February 25.