Review: MADAGASCAR THE MUSICAL, New Wimbledon Theatre

Based on the hugely popular Dreamworks Animation, Madagascar The Musical brings the much-loved film to life in an energetic whirl of funky dance routines and quirky characters.

After becoming disillusioned with his life in a Manhattan zoo, Marty the zebra escapes to see the outside world. Fearful for his safety, his friends Alex the lion, Melman the giraffe and Gloria the hippo follow him, but are captured and sent to a Kenyan nature reserve. After the boat they are travelling on capsizes, they become stranded on strange and madcap island of Madagascar where they meet King Julien XIII and his tribe of lemurs.

The draw for much of the audience will be 2016 X Factor winner Matt Terry, who plays the lovable Alex. He makes a solid theatrical debut, has an infectious enthusiasm and shows some impressive falsetto. Timmika Ramsey is the wise-cracking and sassy Gloria. She has the best voice in the show, with a great range and soulful tone.

Jamie Lee-Morgan plays melancholy hypochondriac Melman; he shows good skill with his puppetry of Melman's long neck and head. Antoine Murray-Straughan is an energetic Marty and has nice chemistry with this best friend Alex.

Jo Parsons threatens to steal the show in the second act as the hilarious lemur King Julien. He shuffles around on his knees in a surrealist performance that is captivating and highly entertaining.

The first act is strong and fairly faithful to the film, but the second act lacks plot and Alex's banishment and eventual redemption seems rushed. The script is tight and often funny, but there is also not enough innuendo and a lack of clever asides to entertain the adults fully.

However, the younger parts of the audience were enthralled. Tom Rogers's design is loud, bright and captivating, with a fantastic use of puppetry for the penguins, monkey and some of the lemurs.

On the hottest night of the year, huge credit must be given for the cast's constant exuberance and energy performing Fabian Aloise's slick choreography. Rogers's brilliant costumes are creative, realistic and so padded that it would not be surprising that if the main characters spent the interval on a saline drip.

As a musical, the utterly infectious Erick Morillo's "I Like to Move It" is the obvious highlight, which featured sections of flossing that the audience loved. There is also Alex's sultry and slightly absurdist ode to his beloved steak. However, the rest of the songs are fun, but forgettable.

The show may not have enough catchy tunes to become a musical classic, but children, in particular, will love this as a simply entertaining night of uncomplicated fun.

Madagascar The Musical is at the New Wimbledon Theatre until 28 July, then touring

Photo Credit: Scott Rylander

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