MRS DOUBTFIRE WILL HAVE YOU LAUGHING, DANCING IN YOUR SEAT, AND MIGHT EVEN DRAW A TEAR OR TWO

By Tanya Howard | Founder, The Live Review London · @glamglitzlondon | Press Invite

When I first heard that Mrs Doubtfire The Musical was come to the stage, I had mixed feelings. Part of me was excited to see how the classic film would be transferred into a stage show. But part of me worried following the controversy surrounding the show following upset from some of the trans community. Whilst I can’t speak on their behalf, I do feel like the show came across well and didn’t feel problematic.

Mrs Doubtfire is a musical based on the 1993 film of the same name. It’s a comedy-drama about holding onto your loved ones against all olds. Out-of-work actor Daniel will do anything for his kids. After losing custody in a messy divorce, he creates the alter ego of Scottish nanny Euphegenia Doubtfire in a desperate attempt to stay in their lives. As his new character takes on a life of its own, Mrs Doubtfire teaches Daniel more than he bargained for about how to be father.

To make the show more relevant they have updated parts of the original film. When cooking dinner for the children for the first time, Mrs Doubtfire finds a YouTube tutorial. The song Easy Peasy is a cooking song complete with Siri and chefs inspired by celebrities like Nigella Lawson. It even stopped for an ad break when the skip button doesn’t register as working. This song also includes the iconic burnt shirt scene from the film.

Gabriel Vick is great in the roles of Daniel and Mrs Doubtfire. As the audience you go on a real journey in his character arcs. From the carefree, fun-loving Dad to losing the children and finding a way to see them. We see his realisation of the hurt he caused to his ex-wife Miranda when she confides in Mrs Doubtfire. He’s very talented as a voice actor but at times I did think that it was overdone.

Mrs Doubtfire The Musical has got an amazing soundtrack. Wayne and Karey Kirkpatrick done a great job with the music and lyrics. From upbeat songs that had you want to start dancing to ones that pulled at the heartstrings. Just Pretend, performed by Gabriel Vick and on-stage daughter Carla Dixon-Hernandez had me a little choked up. And dance number Make Me A Woman had me wanting to join in the fun on stage. Cameron Blakely and Marcus Collins were great in the roles of Frank Hilliard and his husband Andre.

One of the most interesting parts of the show was seeing how the transformation from Daniel to Mrs Doubtfire happened. Double booked Daniel agrees to dinner with Miranda as Mrs Doubtfire and a meeting as himself at the same place. He ropes in his brother and Andre to be on hand to switch him between his two personas. All taking place whilst a flamenco dancer is performing He Lied To Me, which of course is very poignant for Daniel.

Laura Tebbutt is great as Miranda and her solo of Let Go really hit me in the feels. It’s about holding onto a relationship hoping for better until there’s nothing left but to let go. I’d recommend getting a ticket to see Mrs Doubtfire The Musical at Shaftesbury Theatre. It’s a great show that all of the family would enjoy. It will have you laughing, dancing in your seat, and might even draw a tear or two.

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Photo Credit: Manuel Harlan