Review: THE PRINCE OF EGYPT, Dominion Theatre

Photo credit: Tristram Kenton

Screen to stage adaptations are nothing new when it comes to big scale musicals, with Pretty Women and Back to the Future currently taking up residence in the West End and with Joseph and the amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat already a big hit, it’s really no surprise that the stage adaptation of the biblical story of Moses, Ramses and the plight of the hebrews (which was adapted as a Dreamworks movie in 1998) has proven so popular upon its return to the heart of London’s theatreland. 

Closed not long after its original opening last year by the global pandemic, The Prince of Egypt has hit a few bumps in the road since returning when it was hit not once but twice by enforced closures for isolation. But now it is back at the Dominion Theatre, playing to full capacity, and sweeping audiences away to ancient Egypt with its tale of brothers, duty, romance and being true to yourself and where you came from. 

Luke Brady is a commanding presence as Moses, raised as royalty alongside Ramses (Liam Tamne), only to discover the truth and be chosen by God to guide the enslaved hebrews to freedom. The character is faced with a real journey of discovery as he learns about his past and learns to be true to himself and confronted with impossible to imagine responsibility and equally impossible choices, Moses is a character that you can feel for with all of the conflicted emotions pouring out in Brady’s powerful performance. From the beautiful song of dreams and desire ‘Footsteps in the Sand’ to the heartbreaking ‘For the Rest of my Life’, his musical numbers are poignant and beautifully performed. Liam Tamne’s Ramses is also a character in turmoil, determined to live up to his father’s high standards of royalty, lead Egypt as a mighty Pharaoh and follow the examples set by those who came before him, all of which is highlighted in ‘One Weak Link’. We see the once playful brothers torn apart by duty and family, and you can’t help but be swept away in the emotion of it all. 

It is common for films and shows to have a baddie, the character that you just love to hate and with The Prince of Egypt, this role swaps and shifts throughout. There are moments in which Ramses can come across as somewhat villainous, as can his father Seti (Joe Dixon), but as we follow Moses and his attempts to free the Hebrews, the show’s main ‘baddie’ is perhaps High Priest Hotep, played by Adam Pearce. This character is very set in his ways, devoted to the way he believes that things should be done. It is Hotep’s way or no one’s way, and this becomes extremely clear in Act 2. Pearce’s performance is powerful, with his vocals soaring around the auditorium. 

Christine Allado and Alexia Khadime play the roles of Tzipporah and Miriam respectively. These are both strong women, determined to prove themselves. Allado’s Tzipporah knows that she is more deserving of good and fair treatment than royalty believes her to be and is more than willing to help Moses to achieve his tasks. Khadime’s Miriam, who has spent years not being believed whenever she said that Moses would return to save the hebrews, never stops believing, even when her own brother Aaron (Silas Wyatt-Barke) finds it hard to keep the faith. Both Allado and Khadime boast stunning voices, which both impress alone and compliment each other perfectly, especially in the incredible ‘When You Believe’. 

The Prince of Egypt is a true ensemble piece. With a simple set consisting of a moving stage centrepiece, large curtains on which many effects and backdrops are projected and building building blocks that are used to construct sets throughout, it is the ensemble cast who create a number of the elements such as the burning bush and parts of the royal family’s elaborate palace home. The dance numbers in this production are among some of the best we’ve seen; the routines are high energy, complex and simply enchanting to watch as the cast showcase tremendous talent. ‘Through Heaven’s Eyes’ is a particular highlight and we can only imagine the amount of work that goes into creating such incredible dance numbers and the amount of stamina this cast must have. 

We must also praise the children in this production, with George Menezes Cutts and Jersey Blu Georgia each playing multiple parts throughout. Georgia’s vocals are greatly impressive with both young stars able to perform alongside older co-stars with ease. 

The special effects are clever and effective, with the moving stage working very well to create the different landscapes and elements of the story. Towards the show’s finale, this moving stage becomes especially impressive. 

The Prince of Egypt is larger than life both in its physical scale, size of the cast and in its story. The music is beautiful and performed incredibly well by the talented cast; the dancing is off the scale and the storytelling is enchanting. It’s impossible not to get swept away in the wonder of it all and jump to your feet at the end. If you are a fan of the animated classic, then this stage adaptation is sure to take your breath away.

***** Five stars

Reviewed by: Rebecca Wallis

The Prince of Egypt is currently booking at the Dominion Theatre until 8 January 2022. For more information and to book tickets, please click here.