theatre travels
Swamplesque returns to the Adelaide Fringe after proving itself a smash hit last year and then as it toured the country - in fact, it was a friend who saw the show whilst they performed in Sydney that told me that this was one that I couldn’t miss…and so, I didn’t.
The opening legalities could not be a more perfect start to the spoof show. No, this is not your Dreamworks, kid friendly version of Shrek, and definitely no, this is not endorsed by them. What you have instead is an exceptionally clever team that has considered the fact that the Shrek cult following audience has grown up since the 2001 comedic animated film was released and is ready to go on a new Swamp journey. This is definitely an adult’s only Burlesque performance. but it is one accompanied by an entire tentful of keen audience ready to shout out every single line from the original film. Laced with chart topping songs throughout (think Pinocchio singing Beyonce’s ‘If I were a Boy’), the show manages to cover the entire Shrek plot in just an hour and its pace is one of the show’s major assets.
For me, it was the costumes that really impressed - here Solar Flair as Wardrobe Manager has truly excelled. Nods to the original characters that we know and fell in love with, mixed with a spicy Burlesque twist, the execution of the costumes certainly elevates the production value of this Fringe performance. I particularly loved the Dragon and Donkey costumes - so clever!