Shrek the Musical (Redditch Operatic Society)

Always a joyous trip to Duloc (is that an anagram of Cloud, I've often wondered?) isn't it and if you'd like to journey to that mythical land of ogres, donkeys and fairytale characters then you can do so by joining Redditch Operatic Society at the Palace Theatre for their production of Shrek the Musical.

You will of course have to deal with he who is short on stature and large on ego in the form of Matt Bridgewater's characterful portrayal of Lord Farquaad, full of an evil cackle (although perhaps a little more like a giggle) and a deluded belief that any princess might want to marry him.

There is a princess of course, Fiona by name, beauty by day, cursed ogre by night, played with abandon and in the words of Patsy Cline a little 'crazy' in many ways but, with a vocal to 'charm the savage beast' by Sophie Hill. Locked in a tower and guarded by a Dragon, very much a cameo role but, I have to confess with an amazing song to sing and does Lucy Traves sing it well, you can bet your fire breathing adversary of St George she does, if you don't remember it 'Forever' you weren't listening properly.

Worry ye not viewers, the princess will of course be rescued by our hero, he's green, he's less than pretty and prone to regular escapes of wind from various bodily orifices, he is of course Shrek, ogre of this parish and played with just the right mix of outlandishness and charm by Paul Mitchell, with a vocal that frankly should be gracing a West End Stage, his range and capability made only too obvious by his renditions of 'Big Bright Beautiful World' and 'When Words Fail'.

Every hero needs a 'noble steed', a sturdy, well turned-out, aristocratic horse you might think, you'd be wrong as we are talking a rather emotional and eccentric donkey but, played with energy, enthusiasm, pathos and with another stunning vocal by Ryan Allen-Rose.

Having been evicted from Duloc and not welcome in Shrek's Swamp we have a group of fairytale characters relating the stories of their lives and ultimately letting their freak flag fly led by Kirstie Boyden's feisty Pinocchio (he's a real boy you know) and Hannah Fennell's highly and exquisitely vocal Gingy, alongside an array of fine characters and voices, Beth Garden (Mama Bear) and Elle Cross (Ugly Duckling) to name just two.

There are too many highlights to name them all but, it would be remiss of me not to mention the 'I Know It's Today' number which is a joy with Sophie Hill, Millie Stanway (Teem Fiona) and Daisy-May Sandel (Young Fiona at this performance).

This is a production of real enjoyment (if you don't leave feeling happy you must have forgotten to go into the auditorium and stayed in the bar) which is much to the credit of James Baldwin (Director), Paula Lacey (Choreographer) and Joe George (Musical Director).

So, if you want to let your 'Freak Flag Fly' I suggest you see if you can find a ticket although I hear they are a rare as dragon's teeth so you might need to hope for a return.

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