Mrs Doubtfire at Shaftesbury Theatre
The well-loved story of Mrs Doubtfire (originally a novel by Anne Fine and brought to iconic life by Robin Williams for the film) makes its West End debut as a musical at the Shaftesbury Theatre, and it’s a feat of exuberance and ingenuity.
Actor and devoted father Daniel Hillard has finally pushed his wife, Miranda, too far, and she wants a divorce. Due to Daniel’s wavering employment status and scattered domestic situation, the courts grant him limited time with his children; this is an unacceptable situation as far as he is concerned, so he decides to impersonate an elderly British nanny (the formidable Mrs Doubtfire) in order to spend more time with them. Chaos and hilarity ensue.
Adapting the tale – and particularly the eponymous role – for the stage was possibly a risky decision, given Williams’s utterly brilliant performance on screen, but the cast and creatives come through. The new music (by American brothers Wayne and Karey Kirkpatrick) is fairly generic but nonetheless engaging, with a couple of undeniable earworms. Sparkling full-company sequences, imaginative costumes by award-winning designer Catherine Zuber and clever multidimensional sets by David Korins (of Hamilton fame) make for a polished and exhilarating production. In terms of script, the show is pretty faithful to the movie (at times arguably a little too much so), with some more current and appropriately British quips thrown in for its London audience, all of which go down very well.
Gabriel Vick, in particular, shines as the protagonist, bringing extraordinary versatility, consummate skill and apparently unstoppable energy to his portrayal, while Laura Tebbutt as Miranda is notable for her powerful vocal delivery. The ensemble provide a strong foundation as they drive the narrative with comedic vim and superbly executed song and dance numbers. There is admittedly something slightly relentless in the overall effect and some of the emotion surrounding the breaking up of a family is perhaps missing as a result, but Mrs Doubtfire nonetheless keeps us invested. The production is rounded off with a truly touching monologue from Vick, followed by a final full-cast belter that sends everyone off grinning from ear to ear.
A fun and impressive night at the theatre – one not to miss.
Alexandra Fletcher
Photo: Manuel Harlan
Mrs Doubtfire is at Shaftesbury Theatre from 12th May until 2nd June 2024. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.
Watch a trailer for the production here:
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