Mrs. Doubtfire, Shaftesbury Theatre review ★★★★★

You might have read the book, you’ve definitely seen the film and now you can watch the much-loved story of a divorced dad who wins back the favour of his family by becoming their miracle nanny in disguise on stage. Broadway got it first, but now a freshly cast production of Wayne Kirkpatrick (music & lyrics), Karey Kirkpatrick (music, lyrics & book) and John O’Farrell’s (book) Mrs. Doubtfire musical has opened in the West End. And? It’s a cheeky, fuzzy family show, with the potential to tickle audience members of all ages.

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If you’ve seen Chris Colombus’s 1993 film, you’ll recognise the story beat for beat (and in places, line for line). Against designer David Korins’ silhouetted San Francisco skyline, not-heard-on-Broadway number That’s Daniel sets the scene: family patriarch Daniel (Gabriel Vick, more on him later) is a voiceover artist and natural comedian, whose childlike propensities have powerhouse mum Miranda (Laura Tebbutt, with strong vocals) feeling like she’s got a fourth child on her hands instead of a husband.

One divorce, some court orders and a leaked plan for Miranda to hire a nanny later, and Daniel is desperate to do what he can to prevent missing out on time with his three kids – sulky teen Lydia (Carla Dixton-Hernandez, very good), anxious Christopher (Frankie Treadaway) and lisping Natalie (Angelica-Pearl Scott) – which is movingly explored in show number I Want to be There.

Mrs. Doubtfire the musical (original London cast). Photo: Manuel Harlan

The solution? Daniel has his make-up artist brother Frank (Cameron Blakely) and partner Andre (Marcus Collins) morph him into the titular Mrs Doubtfire, a no-nonsense nanny of Scottish heritage, who convinces Miranda she’ll get the house in shipshape order.

The deception piles high, culminating in a heart-in-mouth scene in a restaurant, but even if Daniel can’t keep up appearances for ever, not one of them can deny that Mrs Doubtfire has changed their lives for the better.

While more of a commercial cash cow than theatre as art, under Jerry Zaks’ direction, the production carries moments of genuine creativity. Mrs Doubtfire attempting to cook with the help of Siri chefs popping out of cupboards is highly entertaining, while an eerie nightmare scene in which Daniel finds himself surrounded by a gaggle of vexatious Mrs. Doubtfires is inspired. As for the songs, Act Two number Big Fat No, sung by Mrs Doubtfire and her rival Stuart (Samuel Edwards, all flexed muscles and smarmy charm), earns its laughs in the hands of Vick and Edwards.

Mrs. Doubtfire the musical (original London cast). Photo: Manuel Harlan

There are also references to contemporary Britain shoehorned into this American blockbuster, including Glastonbury loos and Partygate. The latter sees Vick voice a bumbling Boris Johnson with uncanny accuracy. The role of Daniel is a challenging part, requiring Vick to be as much an impersonator as an actor with the verve to lead a high-energy musical, but he pulls it off with aplomb.

It’s been a strong year for musicals in London, and while this Mrs. Doubtfire is no match for scorching newcomers like Chris Bush’s Standing at the Sky’s Edge, or wow-factor revivals such as Nicholas Hytner’s Guys and Dolls, it’s a frothy, funny family show that’s undoubtedly entertaining, and carries a worthy underlying message championing all varieties of family.

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