Rochdale Musical Theatre Company’s Shrek the Musical at Champness Hall is a thoroughly entertaining and uplifting show.

Review by Seamus Kelly

Shrek, a big green ogre with sticking out ears, bad breath and layers, was a big hit at the movies with the first in a series of films released in 2001. Along with his, initially unwelcome, sidekick Donkey, the feisty fairytale princess Fiona and a host of fairytale characters. The movie was loosely based on the book Shrek! by William Steig.

Shrek the Musical is a stage musical based on the movie and is produced in Rochdale by the Rochdale Musical Theatre Company in Champness Hall, directed by Seb Lassandro. The story starts with a 7-year-old Shrek being sent off to make his own way in the world by his parents. He makes his home in a swamp until a great crown of fairytale creatures arrive having been expelled from their home in the land of Duloc on the orders of Lord Farquaad who wants to be king. To recover his home and peaceful life Shrek, played superbly by Gareth Baddeley, sets off on a quest to make Lord Farquaad, Ryan Brown, take the fairytale creatures back.

So, the big question is does the musical live up to the existing reputation of Shrek and his quest to win back his very own home of the swamp. In short yes, the adults in the theatre had a great time reliving many of the big moments from the film - who can forget the exploding songbird or Donkey panicking on the bridge “I’m looking down! There are also some brand-new additions to the story including the connection to Snow White and particularly Grumpy. The younger audience members had lots of fun with story, characters they recognised from other fairytale and lots of humour aimed precisely at their level, whether Pinocchio’s growing nose or Shrek and Princess Fiona, played with great style by Alison Baines, trying to outdo each other burping and breaking wind.

There were plenty of songs including big set piece performances and they were all delivered with style and gusto. The music throughout was played live by the excellent orchestra led by musical director Chris Addington and the dancing was choreographed by Nikki Cooke.

The production used a superb array of costumes with the absolute standout being the diminutive Lord Farquaad requiring the actor to deliver most of his performance on his knees so that the costume legs and feet could reach the floor. That role played by Ryan Brown was for me the cream of a plentiful crop of excellent performances. The clever use of stage settings and props was highlighted by the appearance of the dragon in the form of a large puppet with glowing eyes and opera tied by four puppeteers choreographed by Jenya Robinson. On a couple of occasions when staging or props didn’t function exactly as planned the actors turned them to great moments of humour much applauded by the audience.

At the end of the show the audience were on their feet, singing and dancing along with the whole cast singing the classic “I believe” that brought the 2001 movie to a fitting close. Oh Yes, they believed! A happy, if tired, audience came bubbling out of the theatre from a thoroughly entertaining and uplifting show.

To sum up I’ll quote one of Shrek’s most iconic lines; “That’ll do Donkey, that’ll do!”

On until Saturday 17 May at Champness Hall Drake Street Rochdale Ol16 1Pb, Rochdale OL16 1PB

Visit: https://www.rochdalemtc.co.uk/