Review: THE LIGHTNING THIEF: THE PERCY JACKSON MUSICAL, Theatre Royal Windsor - Tour
Photo credit: Johan Persson
Rick Riordan had his first Percy Jackson book, The Lightning Thief, published in 2005 for his young son, diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia, and has gone on to write seven novels around the character, selling over 180 million copies. It became a film in 2010 and was adapted to a stage musical in 2017, with a book by Joe Tracz, and music and lyrics by Rob Rokicki. After a successful run at the Other Palace in London, it begins a UK tour at the Theatre Royal Windsor with a new young cast. For a generation of young kids, the books were essential reading, and it was very refreshing to see that they turned out in force to support the opening and enthusiastically received the show.
There is a great deal of exposition in the songs and narrative and without prior knowledge of the half-bloods’ parents, it is quite hard to stay on top of the relationships. Cronos ate his own children until his sixth, Zeus released them from his belly. Percy Jackson (played by Vasco Emauz) is the son of Sally (Simone Robinson) and Poseidon (Niall Sheehy). Annabeth (Kayna Montecillo), daughter of Athena, joins Grover (Cahir O’Neill) a satyr (half goat) and Percy on a journey across America to Hades in Los Angeles to recover Zeus’ lightning bolt. Luke (Paolo Micallef) is the son of Hermes and Clarisse (Ellie-Grace Cousins) is the daughter of Ares who are both fathered by Zeus. Along the way, Percy meets a fury, a minotaur, Mr D (Aidan Cutler), or Dionysus (another son of Zues), the centaur Chiron, the snake headed medusa, the monster chimera, the three headed Cerebus, and Charon (the ferryman to Hades). Perhaps if you know your Greek mythology, that all makes sense!
The set design by Ryan Dawson Laight takes its inspiration from water pipes and tunnels under Los Angeles with concrete walls stained by rust. It is a practical setting with multiple levels to provide variation and repurposed to create trains and buses, but don’t expect to see the magic and illusion that Harry Potter and the Cursed Child uses to create the world of Hogwarts. The only sense of location is provided by some projections, a blue wave effect for the sea and a red glow for Hades. It looks like a show was designed to tour on a budget. There is no flying, and the transformations and effects are transparent without surprises. There is a very good costume for Chiron, the half man half beast character but the rest of the modern dress is tongue in cheek with Poseidon dressed in beach wear and Mr D in a comic pair of high waisted shorts.
The music is poppy fun, all a little bit similar, although Mr D does amuse with ‘Another Terrible Day’, there is a Tina Turner diva moment with ‘DOA’ (Dead on Arrival), and ‘Bring on the Monsters’ provides a rousing finale. However, director and choreographer Lizzie Gee ensures the pace never lets up and the cast deliver it all with bags of energy and a good clarity of voice and reasonable American accents. The routines are well drilled and executed although, at times, it feels a little like High School Musical meets Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, and that is part of its appeal to a young audience.
This Bill Kenwright Limited production does what its founder always did so well - produce good quality regional touring shows on a budget that entertain and amuse. It will hopefully draw in young audiences around the country as a natural follow on for those who took part in the Summer Youth Projects by giving them an upbeat live theatre experience. Next up, they are producing The Shawshank Redemption, which will have an older appeal. It’s just what regional theatre needs, good titles in well produced shows that provide a good night’s entertainment. It is great to see Kenwright’s legacy is being honoured and developed.
*** Three stars
Reviewed by: Nick Wayne