We round up the reviews for the UK premiere of this musical based on the books by Rick Riordan.
WhatsOnStage: *** “Set and costume designer Ryan Dawson Laight conjures up a range of imaginative scenarios, and there is some decent stagecraft on show (the creative team includes illusionist Richard Pinner), as a minotaur emerges from some cages, shadowy beasts pop up on umbrellas, and ghostly figures loom in an elevated portal. It’s all augmented by some high octane lighting from Charlie Morgan Jones, particularly in the climactic underworld scenes.”
Everything Theatre: *** “Ultimately I can’t suggest that this is a must see production due to the high ticket prices, and though this is a fun romp with some cute songs and a script which has a good few amusing lines, it doesn’t feel quite ready for a big stage like The Other Palace. A few more drafts are needed to add the depth that it clearly desires, and in its current state I can only hesitantly recommend it to big fans of the franchise or if you have money to burn.”
Broadway World: *** “The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical is a fun show with some standout performances, but it struggles to find itself while fitting the plot of the entire book – with references to others in the series – into two acts. If it fully embraced the campness it establishes in several numbers, matching the energy of the original book series, it could become something truly fantastic.”
Time Out: *** “The key thing about this musical – and certainly a factor that was missing from the films – is just how much love there is for the source material. Zeus knows what anyone unfamiliar with the books is liable to make of it all, and its cockatrices do come home to roost with that garbled ending. But Riordan lovers won’t regret the trip to this giddy celebration of his books’ dafter side.”
The Telegraph: ** “A stage adaptation of the mega-selling YA books should have caught fire – instead, we’re deluged by teenage angst and squelchy emoting.”
All That Dazzles: **** “A story as big as The Lightning Thief may need a much grander scale to be played out to match its epicness. However, the way The Other Palace approach it for this intimate production is admirable – still ensuring a great retelling of the story while always having a knowing wink visible to the audience.”
The Reviews Hub: **** 1/2 “High theatre critics may roll their eyes, but masterful music and a poignant self-assuring message set The Lightning Thief up for a very likely West End transfer. To those “too old” for Percy Jackson, the titular hero says this: Bring on the monsters.”
The Stage: **** “Musical adaptation of novelist Rick Riordan’s bestselling spin on Greek mythology is great fun.”
Radio Times: **** “With this being yet another musical joining London’s theatreland about Greek mythology, The Percy Jackson musical stands exceptionally well on its own two feet, and it would be a disaster if this wasn’t extended for years to come.”
West End Best Friend: *** “The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical is a fast-paced and flawed but enjoyable addition to the growing number of book to stage musicals. For any fans of the book, this is a must see but more casual fantasy fans might get lost in the jam-packed plot and inconsistent pacing.”
The Arts Desk: ** “Pace is everything in family-oriented shows and this production progresses like a slow turning kebab grill.”
Theatre & Tonic: **** “Closing The Lightning Thief with an epic progressive rock anthem “Bring on the Monsters” which seems to promise more to come, I’m more interested in seeing further developments to the current production and wary of the idea of creating a second instalment to form an adaptation musical series.”
Rewrite This Story: **** “The musical excels at what it sets out to do: entertain, uplift, and provide a few hours of joyous escapism. With a faithful adaptation, a gifted cast led by the brilliant Max Harwood, and a visually inventive production, it’s a treat for fans and a celebration of the power of storytelling- a monster of a show! Like Percy’s time at Camp Half-Blood, it reminds us that even when life gets messy, friendship and unity can see us through.”
To book tickets visit: https://percyjacksonmusical.com/