A musically packed productionRating
Good
No one can deny the huge surge in books and movies being adapted for the stage. With ‘The Hunger Games’ currently in previews in a new purpose-built theatre in Canary Wharf, ‘Devil’s Wear Prada’ living it up on the West End, ‘Elf’ and ‘Paddington’ arriving for this coming Christmas season, and countless others appearing on big and small stages alike, it’s no wonder that I have to play catch up and see The Lightning Thief Musical on its UK tour at New Wimbledon Theatre after a successful UK premiere at The Other Palace Theatre last year. But is this reuse-recycle method producing fresh and exciting theatre?
This production of The Lighting Thief, The Percy Jackson Musical written by Joe Tracz based on ‘Percy Jackson and The Lighting Thief’ by Rick Riordan was not short of production value with a large scale set, ensemble cast and props swords of plenty, this musically packed production really creates a high standard for touring.
However, at its core, this struggles for an identity between a serious production and a parody. A mixture of Lizzi Gee‘s direction and Tracz’s writing are at fault. The musical feels strongest when it is poking fun and playing up some of the more eccentric characters. The second act plays closer to a parody which feels the strongest route. My plus one for the evening likened it to ‘A Very Potter Musical’ which I felt to be a very fitting comparison.
From adaptation to adaptation, the characters ages shift – in the original book they are only 12 years old. In this production, adult actors play ambiguously aged children allowing the audience to make their own minds up. This trick of the mind works well, however, a few of the casts’ American accents are perhaps over-exaggerated and landed more in the whiny teenager zone. A few stand-out performances includes Cahir O’Neill, who plays Grover a nervous satyr, with great conviction and Ellie – Grace Cousins – who plays Clarisse , daughter of the war god Ares, with unforgettable stage presence.
Vocally it is a very strong cast that makes an ensemble of ten feel like twenty. Memorable numbers included ‘The campfire song’ and ‘Lost’. These more repetitive group numbers are more intrinsic than the many ballads.
Producing theatre for an already established fanbase can be a tricky one, with the fast-paced action and quickly skipped over plot points, this 2 hr 20-minute show, including interval, just can’t cover the whole original 377-page book. Although it’s possible to follow along the storyline without prior knowledge of the original books or movie/series adaptations, having prior knowledge does improve your enjoyment, as there just simply isn’t time to drive deeply into the characters.
Set and Costume Designer, Ryan Dawson Laight, finds a great balance between physical set and projection, taking us through the many locations along their heroes’ journey. The physical set is made up of rusty ladders meaning to resemble the underground network of water and electrical work in Los Angeles, although the characters never find themselves in this tunnel system during the musical, it makes a subtle reference to the books for those super fans to enjoy. The highlight of the set is the circular screen on the back wall, used very creatively throughout the show to recreate iconic moments in the books, and for flashbacks or dream sequences.
This theatrical production of The Lighting Thief has built upon the already massively successful franchise. Adding musical numbers refreshes the content, and when the production leans into the comical opportunities, it creates a real fan-like atmosphere. So perhaps it’s a badge of honour when media is so loved, with fan bases so big that anything is possible, even bringing the Greek Gods back to the stage.
Written by Joe Tracz
Composed by Rob Rokicki
Directed and choreographed by Lizzi Gee
Set and Costume Design by Ryan Dawson Laight
Video Designed by Matt Powell
Lighting Design by Tim Deiling
Sound Design by Dan Samson
The Lighting Thief The Percy Jackson Musical plays at New Wimbledon Theatre until Saturday 1 November, then continues its UK tour until March 2026.
