Rick Riordan’s book The Lightning Thief receives the musical treatment and now showcases its second London cast at The Other Palace. As Percy Jackson discovers he is no ordinary boy but half-God, half-mortal, life starts to become very strange.
The Percy Jackson universe now encompasses film and television, so it is a big franchise draw. But does this show, with a book by Joe Tracz, and music/lyrics by Rob Rokicki, cause a sensation?
Earlier in the day, London had been in the throes of a mega-storm which seemed apt for The Lightning Thief: perhaps Zeus was sending us a subliminal message?
Yes, this show is about the Greek gods so you may find that Hadestown pops up in your mind, or perhaps Mythic, a minor musical that ran here a few years ago. The difference with The Lightning Thief is that the main characters are the children of the gods, and they all feel a little neglected.
Percy (a rather underpowered Morgan Gregory) has a lot to digest about his deadbeat dad, but finds himself set for a dangerous quest, taking up much of act two. His companions, Grover (a quirky and funny Angus Benstead) and Annabeth (a sparkling Lizzy-Rose Esin-Kelly), offer sterling support.
Although there are 22 songs, not that many are memorable. “The Campfire Song” has a lively refrain about parents running the universe and “D.O.A.” riffs on the idea that the underworld might be reached via a record shop in Los Angeles.
Elsewhere “The Tree on the Hill” gives Benstead a serious solo, and “Son of Poseidon” adds a bit of power, albeit with an over-familiar structure. The set by Ryan Dawson Laight is inspired by LA street culture, playgrounds, and the underworld, heavily augmented by Duncan McLean’s video projections and Charlie Morgan Jones’s impressive light work.
As Percy and co progress from the lively and competitive ‘Camp Half-Blood’ (a summer camp run by Joshua Lay’s abrasive Mr D) to the open roads and forests of the American West, we feel the changes in atmosphere before reaching Hades’s domain of rust and shadows.
The stellar supporting cast of five (Jazz Evans, Paisley Billings, Kenedy Small, Xander Pang, Lay) swap in and out of a number of roles including a tough stepfather, a bus driver, a demon, a biker, various mythical creatures, and a man in a Hawaiian shirt.
With four gifted ensemble players (one, Philip Catchpole, is the production’s resident director), it feels as if something is always happening and the time never drags. There’s a definite sense of youthful discovery in the room.
Musical director Ben McQuigg leads the band who are hidden behind the set, and sometimes a little too loud, overpowering the vocals. Richard Pinner provides some clever illusions, and Laura Cubitt’s puppet direction allows a sense of disbelief to vanish.
I did appreciate a lot about The Lightning Thief, which has moments that have the small-scale energy of Eugenius while capturing the spirit of those absent gods (all described in detail in the programme). It is easy to follow for those unschooled in the Percy Jackson story and is good, if not exceptional, entertainment.
3 stars.
The Lighning Thief continues at The Other Palace until 31 Aug before heading out on a UK tour – details here.
Image credit: Manuel Harlan