The Royal Hippodrome Community Theatre Company is one of the first amateur companies in the country to secure the rights to bring Madagascar, a Musical Adventure, based on the superb family film, to life on stage – and bring it to life they really do!
From the opening number, It’s Showtime, set in New York’s Central Park Zoo right through to the finale, a full company beach party version of I Like to Move It, the show stays as faithful as possible to the animated classic and the cast, mainly aged 6 – 18, give everything they have.
The four Central Park Zoo residents are played by Richard Lock (Alex the Lion), Stanley Fulker (Marty the Zebra), Beth Symons (Gloria the Hippo) and Kenny Giles (Melman the Giraffe) who all have terrific costumes and elaborate make-up which, together with their superb characterisation, creates a real familiarity with the original animated animals.
Led astray by the freedom-seeking Penguins, Rico (Olivia Sorrell-Fleet), Kowalski (Amelia Walker), Private (Duke Haji) and Skipper (Luke Heys), the four escape the zoo but get caught in Grand Central Station, where they are tranquilised and end up on a ship heading to Africa.
After an accident at sea, the animals wash up on a beach in Madagascar where we meet King Julien and his tribe of Ring-Tailed Lemurs. Despite being surrounded by a whole troupe of children from six years old upwards dressed in lemur costumes (one of the cutest sights ever to be seen on stage), it is David Fricker, as King Julien, who steals the show with his unbelievably brilliant performance, assisted by the fantastically dead-pan comedy of 10 year old Luke Turner as Maurice.
The rest of the cast play the remaining human, and animal, characters very well. They all have quality costumes and work hard through the dance numbers, with action taking place not only on the stage but also throughout the sold-out theatre – a joy to see for a community theatre production.
By the time we get to the finale, another reprise of the tremendously infectious I Like to Move It, the full house are on their feet, dancing, clapping and singing along. Director and Choreographer, Sarah Dormady, has worked hard with her company and the result is a fun packed, colourful, heart-warming, and, above all, brilliantly performed piece of family theatre which really deserves the standing ovation at curtain fall.
If you can get tickets to see Madagascar, a Musical Adventure grab them, and go along for a fun packed musical treat!
**** Four Stars
