The Prince of Egypt, Dominion Theatre, ★★★★★

‘There can be miracles, if you believe’ is a song I’ve long loved, but had never seen the film / show The Prince of Egypt, from where it originates. Currently in its last few weeks at the Dominion Theatre, where I’ve previously seen and believed in the magic of the musicals, this show tops them all. 

Visibly funded by the infamous animation company Dreamworks, you can easily see where this film-to-stage as opposed to the more popular journey from stage-to-film, gets its spectacular scenic magic.

As Lloyd Webber did with Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat and then Jesus Christ Superstar, Stephen Schwartz has followed with Godspell, his recently celebrated 30th anniversary of Children of Eden, and now The Prince of Egypt. I guess it was only a matter of time before the greatest story ever told, was turned into several  subsequent shows, without the clear parody of The Book of Mormon. 

To be perfectly honest with you, I hadn’t realised this show was based on the Biblical story of the Egyptian ‘brothers’, Moses (Luke Brady) and Ramses (Liam Tamne). We follow the story from Moses’ birth and subsequent escaping journey alone on the Nile into the loving hands of the Queen Tuya of Egypt (Debbie Kurup). Raised as their own son by Tuya and her husband Pharaoh Seti (Joe Dixon) it's not until much later in life that Moses realises his true identity and calling to save the Hebrews, through a series of miracles, finishing with the picturesque parting of the Red Sea.

There is no doubting the theatricality and dramatic value in the original Religious Texts, with the burning bush, the plagues, chariot races and the majestic presence of the Pyramids, giving director Scott Schwartz solid stepping stones to build up a striking and truly memorable show. Sean Cheeseman's choreography and Kevin Depinet's stage design and Mike Billings' lighting was as spectacular as the scenic projections, using the vast empty canvas of the Dominion stage (and beyond) to its full theatrical effect.

Despite this recent need to pump out the musical soundtrack to its fullest volume, (like the ear-deafening dreadful Waitress the Musical) at least with this show, I was able to understand every words sung by these clearly triple-threat amazing actors, dancers and singers.

Hidden beneath Lloyd Webber's continuing hold on the West End, and the ever-increasing stream of questionably cheesey Broadway 'hits,' that washes their way over the Atlantic Ocean, this is one real royal gem that deserves to be found and seen and savoured.

The Prince of Egypt, Dominion Theatre, ★★★★★