Disney's Hercules West End Reviews

How could a show about such an outsize hero as Hercules be so lame? That’s the question hovering over a Disney-backed musical that arrived at the Theater Royal, Drury Lane, in London on Tuesday, just nine months after the playhouse waved goodbye to...

How could a show about such an outsize hero as Hercules be so lame? That’s the question hovering over a Disney-backed musical that arrived at the Theater Royal, Drury Lane, in London on Tuesday, just nine months after the playhouse waved goodbye to “Frozen,” another screen-to-stage cull from the Disney catalog.

A sound design with more clarity on the vocals than on the brassy 13-piece band band would have helped the quintet, but none of them is low on sass or killer melismas and their knowingness is the predominant attitude of director Casey Nicholaw’s (�...

A sound design with more clarity on the vocals than on the brassy 13-piece band band would have helped the quintet, but none of them is low on sass or killer melismas and their knowingness is the predominant attitude of director Casey Nicholaw’s (“Aladdin”) production. Laced throughout as commentators, their joyful energy kickstarts everything and they land every moment, striking poses and rising up through the floor of Dane Laffrey’s set to the audience’s delight. But the thought occurs that it takes more than hydraulics to lift a show.

“It’s all absolutely fine, and accepting it’s not a screechingly ambitious piece of work then perhaps all it really lacks is a big showstopper moment... Hercules, though, is one unit of generic Disney stage entertainment. It has charm, because ...

“It’s all absolutely fine, and accepting it’s not a screechingly ambitious piece of work then perhaps all it really lacks is a big showstopper moment... Hercules, though, is one unit of generic Disney stage entertainment. It has charm, because it’s adapted from a charming film and talented people have made it, but it’s definitely not going to go down in legend.”

By the gods, Disney has done it again. With thunderous flair and lightning-fast wit, Hercules storms the stage at Theatre Royal Drury Lane in a heavenly display of theatrical might... this production proves that Disney Theatrical Group knows exactly ...

By the gods, Disney has done it again. With thunderous flair and lightning-fast wit, Hercules storms the stage at Theatre Royal Drury Lane in a heavenly display of theatrical might... this production proves that Disney Theatrical Group knows exactly how to flex its musical muscles.

The film’s standout song, “Go the Distance” is fantastic here, full of pep and yearning. The muses are gorgeous, too – the show is lit up by this charismatic quintet’s sinuous harmonies, fabulous Motown party-worthy outfits and general clow...

The film’s standout song, “Go the Distance” is fantastic here, full of pep and yearning. The muses are gorgeous, too – the show is lit up by this charismatic quintet’s sinuous harmonies, fabulous Motown party-worthy outfits and general clowning around.

However, Brady’s Hercules is sweet but uncharismatic, his romance with Hades’ bored-seeming servant Meg (Mae Ann Jorolan) low-powered. Alan Menken and David Zippel’s score includes hits from the original film and some new numbers added for the ...

However, Brady’s Hercules is sweet but uncharismatic, his romance with Hades’ bored-seeming servant Meg (Mae Ann Jorolan) low-powered. Alan Menken and David Zippel’s score includes hits from the original film and some new numbers added for the 2019 off Broadway premiere: I enjoyed the Muses’ much-reprised Gospel Truth, Hercules’ Go the Distance, and Meg’s Forget About It in performance, but none lingered in the ear or the mind on the journey home.

Several key characters, including the mighty Titans and Hercules’s dim but loyal equine friend Pegasus, have been excised. Panic and Pain, the demonic shapeshifters on team Hades, are now a couple of deadbeat blokes called Bob and Charles. The irri...

Several key characters, including the mighty Titans and Hercules’s dim but loyal equine friend Pegasus, have been excised. Panic and Pain, the demonic shapeshifters on team Hades, are now a couple of deadbeat blokes called Bob and Charles. The irritable satyr Philoctetes is now a world weary, very human waiter. Most unforgivably for the film’s fans, Hades struts about in a blingy frock coat rather than shimmering in a haze of icy blue fire.

Ultimately, Disney’s Hercules is a fun, flashy, yet not-so-faithful adaptation of the original film that lacks the flair and (literal) fire that made the 1997 film so special. It’s an enjoyable theatrical production, but struggles to find the swe...

Ultimately, Disney’s Hercules is a fun, flashy, yet not-so-faithful adaptation of the original film that lacks the flair and (literal) fire that made the 1997 film so special. It’s an enjoyable theatrical production, but struggles to find the sweet spot between being a silly show for kids and a more adult musical about finding your place in the world.

From where I was sitting in the stalls, to be honest, a fair portion of Zippel’s over-amplified lyrics were so difficult to decipher that they might as well have been written in a classical language. Thankfully, those mighty muses — played this e...

From where I was sitting in the stalls, to be honest, a fair portion of Zippel’s over-amplified lyrics were so difficult to decipher that they might as well have been written in a classical language. Thankfully, those mighty muses — played this evening by Kimmy Edwards, Kamilla Fernandes, Sharlene Hector, Robyn Rose-Li and Brianna Ogunbawo — can blow the roof off of any temple.

There is a briskness to its drama, under the direction of Casey Nicholaw, and a pounding out of the material – Songs! Lights! Action! – that makes it seem like a conveyor-belt musical. The characters are not so much divine as 2D, although the sou...

There is a briskness to its drama, under the direction of Casey Nicholaw, and a pounding out of the material – Songs! Lights! Action! – that makes it seem like a conveyor-belt musical. The characters are not so much divine as 2D, although the sound and optics are always eye-popping, the swivelling set designs intent on moving heaven and earth. Gregg Barnes and Sky Switser’s costumes are heavenly, too, and camp as hell: gold dresses, white Spanx and Hercules in a mesh vest and miniskirt-style toga by the end.

Music and lyrics by Alan Menken and David Zippel are audaciously bland. And with the five gospel-singing muses adding diva-ish decibels, I couldn't make out what they were singing. All these moments lack the power and pageantry of Disney's other the...

Music and lyrics by Alan Menken and David Zippel are audaciously bland. And with the five gospel-singing muses adding diva-ish decibels, I couldn't make out what they were singing. All these moments lack the power and pageantry of Disney's other theatrical hit, The Lion King. Simba's underpowered sibling needs to go back to the gym and bulk up.

It is very hard to care much about our bland and characterless hero, who has teeth of such dazzling whiteness that even the gods must be blinded. Anyway, he discovers the fact of his divine parentage and vows to return “home” to Olympus (another ...

It is very hard to care much about our bland and characterless hero, who has teeth of such dazzling whiteness that even the gods must be blinded. Anyway, he discovers the fact of his divine parentage and vows to return “home” to Olympus (another huge irritation is that almost all the characters have American accents, leading to excess, bizarre and culturally unfamiliar pronunciation. Zeus’s wife here, phonetically, is Hair-a).

Luke Brady leads the cast with a commanding performance as Hercules, combining vocal prowess with emotional nuance. His rendition of “Go the Distance” is a clear highlight—soaring, heartfelt, and met with rapturous applause. He is ably supporte...

Luke Brady leads the cast with a commanding performance as Hercules, combining vocal prowess with emotional nuance. His rendition of “Go the Distance” is a clear highlight—soaring, heartfelt, and met with rapturous applause. He is ably supported by Mae Ann Jorolan as Meg, who brings a sharp wit and smoky vocal tone to the role, capturing the character’s complexity with ease. Disney’s wonder boy is wonderful.

While the sets and effects here are not as striking (though there is once again a bridge traversing the length of the stage, this time in set designer Dane Laffrey’s stalactite-encrusted Underworld), Casey Nicholaw’s production packs in big tunes...

While the sets and effects here are not as striking (though there is once again a bridge traversing the length of the stage, this time in set designer Dane Laffrey’s stalactite-encrusted Underworld), Casey Nicholaw’s production packs in big tunes, gorgeous costumes, and plenty of groan-worthy laughs.