Review: MRS DOUBTFIRE, Birmingham Hippodrome
The beloved movie becomes a charming and exuberant family show
Attention poppets! Mrs Doubtfire has arrived on tour and she's ready to charm households all over the country. Whether you grew up with the beloved 1993 movie starring Robin Williams, or you're brand new to the world of this super nanny, you're sure to find plenty to love in this exuberant and delightfully chaotic production.
The musical adaptation premiered on Broadway in 2021 and made its way to London in 2023 where it delighted audiences for almost two years, and now West End Doubtfire Gabriel Vick is reprising his role for the tour, playing Daniel Hillard, the father who loses access to his three children after an acrimonious divorce. Faced with only seeing them once a week, he disguises himself as an elderly Scottish lady and applies for the job of their nanny and housekeeper, leading to a heaping dose of comedy and a healthy sprinkling of sentimentality.
Vick is outstanding as leading man - and of course, leading lady. The late Robin Williams was one of a kind, so he wisely doesn't attempt to produce a carbon copy. His Daniel begins the show as an irrepressible, fun-loving dad who loves his family but doesn't understand their needs, and slowly becomes a better person through his experiences as Mrs Doubtfire. Vick looks equally at home when cycling through an array of impressions (everyone from Trump to Alan Carr appears) and switching back and forth between himself and his invented nanny at breakneck speed, as he does in the emotional scenes and quiet moments between him and his teenage daughter or ex-wife.
Photo Credit: Matt Crockett
Vick is helped immeasurably by the wonderful prosthetics and costuming, provided by make-up designer Craig Forrest-Thomas, wig designer Sam Cox and Costume Designer Catherine Zuber. The quick changes in farcical scenes at Daniel's apartment and a Spanish restaurant are shown onstage and work incredibly well at adding to both the comedy and the thrill of the moments.
The rest of the cast provide great support for Vick, with Aaliya Mai as daughter Lydia particularly shining. Ryan Pidgen and Jairus McClanahan bring the laughs as Daniel's brother Frank and his husband Andre, who help transform Daniel into his new persona, with Frank's habit of yelling when he lies always surfacing at the worst possible moments. Samuelle Durojaiye mines the role of Daniel's bemused court-appointed case worker for all its worth, but Kara Lily Hayworth is somewhat short-changed as Daniel's frustrated ex-wife Miranda. It's a thankless role that doesn't feel cohesively written, though her Act 2 song “Let Go” is beautifully sung by Hayworth and gives welcome insight to Miranda's state of mind, even if it occurs too late in the show. Meanwhile, the ensemble excels in every incarnation, from tap dancing chefs to a line of nightmarish Riverdancing replica Doubtfires, all with wonderfully splashy choreography from Lorin Latarro.
The songs for Mrs Doubtfire are written by Wayne and Karey Kirkpatrick, who also gave us Something Rotten!, but unlike that show they are mostly light pop tunes which are fun to watch but instantly forgettable. Exceptions are the angsty “What the Hell” sung by Daniel's kids, the very funny “Big Fat No” featuring Miranda’s new boyfriend Stuart (James Darch), and the glorious transformation song “Make Me A Woman”. The latter features a fantastic hook, a vast array of costumes, and dancing versions of Nicola Sturgeon, Julia Child and Oscar Wilde, and is almost worth the ticket price alone.
Karey Kirkpatrick teams up with John O'Farrell to write the show's book, which takes heavy inspiration from the movie's script by Randi Mayem Singer and Leslie Dixon, itself based on the Anne Fine novel. If there was a line or scene you loved in the movie, you're likely to see it here; the show manages to be an extremely faithful recreation while still interjecting some modernity and creative moments. Director Jerry Saks keeps everything moving quickly enough to maintain the attention of all ages, but isn't afraid to give us stillness when needed.
Technically, the show is a pleasure too, with the Hillard family home and Daniel's flat beautifully created in David Korins’ set design, and Philip S. Rosenberg’s bright and peppy light design ensuring the mood remains high throughout.
Mrs Doubtfire doesn't try to reinvent the wheel, but it's a fun-filled family night out that has something for all ages and makes a great alternative to Disney shows. It may be lighthearted, but its messages that love is the most important thing in life and that family can come in any form both land beautifully, and you might even feel a tear fall in between the laughs.
Mrs Doubtfire at Birmingham Hippodrome until 19 September, then touring
Photo Credit: Matt Crockett
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