Shrek the Musical (Quarry Bank Musical Theatre Society)

Like many societies it has been three years since Quarry Bank Musical Theatre Society have managed to bring a production to the stage, you might ask has it been worth the wait ? Well read on as this is a powerhouse production requiring a deep dive into a thesaurus for superlatives, these might be my words but, as the song goes, this is their story.

Not often do you get to play a demanding (bordering I imagine on exhausting) lead role that even your closest friends might not recognise as you but, Carl Cook under a weight of costume and make-up brings a performance of epic proportions to the role of everybody's favourite ogre, Shrek, outstanding vocals (not to mention some pretty impressive farting and belching).

Every self-respecting ogre needs a sidekick (or maybe even a 'noble steed') and that comes in an energetic and audience pleasing performance from Luey Pearce as Donkey, with a soulful vocal and milking the comedy element for every conceivable drop.

Now the ogre has his sidekick they need a 'damsel in distress' to rescue and they might have been hoping for the demure, unassuming, shy and bashful type. Well let me tell you they're going to be disappointed as Sarah Coussens as Princess Fiona (you know, the one who has been locked in a tower for years) is more the manic, demanding, intense in fact slightly scary sort, owning the stage and with another incredible vocal (I haven't finished talking about vocals yet but, how do you have so many unbelievable singers in one society).

So you're rescuing a princes with a donkey as your sidekick but, why when you were happy on your own in your swamp, minding your own business ? Probably because old shorty (oops) from the village down the road has evicted a bunch of fairytale characters to bother you, what can we say about Lord Farquaad, maybe what he lacks in stature he makes up for in .... well perhaps self-obsession but, played with great aplomb by Tom Robinson.

We aren't talking just the odd fairytale character here either, there are many, led with conviction by Isabella Cook as that 'real boy' Pinocchio, well perhaps not so real, the nose gives it away but, a very 'real' and convincing performance. It would be difficult to mention every fairytale character individually they are all portrayed so well and their group numbers 'Story Of My Life' and 'Freak Flag' are delivered with gusto but, just a few individual characters that will live long in the memory, Big Bad Wolf (Paul Winwood), Wicked Witch (Darcy Grainger), Ugly Duckling (Freya Greaves) and Peter Pan (Joe Neale).

There are so many highlights to this show that I could write a book but, here are some specifics that you might want keep your eyes peeled for, some very accomplished Tap Dancing Rats (Kersten Davies, Leanne Ditchfield, Sam-James Gordon, Darcy Grainger, Heather Hadley, Niamh Hadley, Freya Poulton, Katie Tranter, Naomi Thompson and Sherrie Young), talented Three Blind Mice (Heather Hadley, Freya Poulton and Naomi Thompson), Shrek's touching rendition of the ballad 'When Words Fail', Gillian Homer's joyful voicing of the Gingerbread Man, the three princesses lamenting their time in the tower with Connie Davies and Katie Tranter joining Sarah Coussens and last but, by no means least Natalie Baggott as the Dragon (if you only get one song, you need to 'smack it out of the park' which she undoubtedly does and more).

It takes so much to put a production like this on and many valuable contributions happen off stage, I therefore feel the need to call out not only Zoe Russell (Director/Choreogrpaher) and Chris Handley (Musical Director) but, Shantelle Nolan and Luke Johnston (Wardrobe), Paul Herrington, Amy Pearson and Team (Make-Up, Prosthetics & Wigs) and Stewart Homer, Margaret Taylor and Team Hazlewood (Stage Management/Crew).

If you want to see their 'Big Bright Beautiful World' you need to get your tickets now as they are selling like snothers at an ogre barbecue.

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