The Prince of Egypt

– Dominion Theatre London- 18/09/21 Stalls Row P seat 46

A long, long time ago, … when people still shook hands, kissed and hugged and didn't fear slight colds and some coughing, like 18 months ago, I left London on a cold December night thinking I would be back by March. Little did I know. I had to cancel not one, not two, not three, not four, but five planned theatre trips. I had to postpone, and postpone yet again.I almost lost hope of ever coming back.

But I did! First show I planned to see on my trip September 2021 was “back tot the future”! But, lady luck wasn't on my side, and due to illness in the cast, the show was cancelled.

Not to worry, lots to see in London, so I decided to see 'The Prince of Egypt', the biblical story of Moses. I really like the music of Wicked and as Stephen Schwartz has written the music for both Wicked as The prince of Egypt, I thought it might be a good alternative. 'When you believe' is a well known beautiful song, and also 'Deliver us' is really special and powerful. Rush ticket booked and all was set!

Let me first start with the best thing about this show... the choreography is just one of the best I ever saw in musical theatre, Sean Cheesman did a very good job. It was creative, if was colourful, it told a huge part of the story and it was very well executed by a talented cast of dancers. If the whole story was just told with dance, it might have worked...

But it wasn't, and it really didn't work for me. It left me with a feeling of: it is just too long, there are too many parts/songs/scenes who don't add to the storyline, and it didn't make me FEEL. I felt nothing, and I want to be moved by theatre. When babies are being slaughtered on stage, I want to be MOVED. I want to feel tears flowing. I wanted to feel the brotherly love between Moses and Ramses, and I didn't, it just felt like, two dudes singing a song on stage. I also didn't feel the inner turmoil of Moses when he turned against the family who raised him, and what drives him forward. I didn't feel that he believed...

I can't say any of the cast didn't sing or perform well, I can't say anyone did anything bad on stage, all performances were good... but it just lacked feeling, it just lacked that little extra that I expect when I see a London show. It lacks the stuff that makes me want to go back to see a show. It lacks the stuff that pulls my heartstrings.

I am sure I won't even remember much of this show after a few years, it will just shift way back in my memory.

I don't think that the story itself is the problem, some biblical stories like 'Joseph and the amazing technocolor dreamcoat' and 'Jesus Christ Superstar' do work, and work well.

This is just my opinion, and some people love this show, go see it for yourself. I wouldn't take small children with me though, due to the lenght of the show, and it's not really a story for children, even when they first made the animated movie. If you do want to see a musical based on an animated movie, I think the Disney ones (Frozen, Lion King, Mary poppins) are a much better choice.

If I have to give this a rating, I would give its 2,5/5 and the choreography has saved it. I can't say this is a bad show, but for my taste it isn't a good show either.