Review: The Lord of the Rings

A daring adaptation of the epic series by J.R.R. Tolkien hits the Australian stage -- but does it work as a standalone musical? The Burne's Genevieve Spiteri finds out.

Beware, mortal Hobbit, for there are mild spoilers ahead for The Lord of the Rings.

I have never read or watched The Lord of the Rings.

I know, it may sound crazy to some, but it never came across my radar at the right time, so this musical is my very first interaction with the franchise!

So, with very limited knowledge of the franchise (I knew some character names and some basic plot elements), but with an obsessive love for musical theatre, this seemed like an opportunity to see if this fan-favourite trilogy makes for a good musical.

The verdict: it does indeed!

The first thing to say is that the performances of the actors were truly outstanding. Everyone involved, from the leads to the individual ensemble members were singing, dancing and acting powerhouses and were all perfectly cast. The raw energy on the stage is contagious, the entire audience were laughing and clapping along when the scenes were that of joy, holding their breath and each other’s hands when it was tense, and crying when they demanded that reaction.

A stunning production winning over audiences at the Comedy Theatre. Photo: Daniel Boud This two-act musical is a delightful musical experience that takes you on an adventure through Middle-Earth as a large cast of characters journey to save their realm from the Dark Lord, Sauron, by destroying the One Ring.

A note for movie fans: the musical is based on the book trilogy, not the film franchise, and while I have not seen the movies, upon consultation with people that have, it definitely “feels like the books, not the films”.

The original musical, simply titled The Lord of the Rings, had a three-and-a-half-hour runtime and received both favourable and negative reviews by the press during its premiere in Toronto in 2006. It has since undergone revisions and has been condensed for this revival, with a total runtime of about three hours, including a 20-minute interval.

The show opens with members of the cast entering the stage and waving at the audience, interacting with them and engaging them in conversation. The musicians in the middle of the stage start playing their instruments quietly, with the microphones turned off, but then, gradually, the entire cast eventually erupts into a beautiful folk number that ends in an upbeat, high-energy dance number. It sets the scene of Bilbo Baggins’ 111th birthday celebration.

Rarmian Newton plays Frodo Baggins, and his performance is stunning. Pippin is played by Hannah Buckley, who effortlessly balances her comic-relief role with the emotional depth required.

Ramian Newton as Frodo Baggins. Photo: Daniel Boud

The stand-out performer is Laurence Boxhall, as Gollum. His physicality and sheer creative performance abilities, along with the way he contorts both his body and his voice, make for a memorable experience.

Standout moment include the opening song — with the audience invited to sing Happy Birthday to Bilbo Baggins, establishing an immediate connection; and Gollum’s Song. It is a credit to Boxhall’s performance, as the constant switches between the Gollum and Smeagol personas is impressive and consistent.

Laurence Boxall is the standout performer as Gollum. Photo: Daniel Boud

Less successful is the rushed feeling of the second act. While it does take a little while to get to the ultimate climax of Mount Doom, once it happens, the rest of the plot is tied up very quickly.

In one night, I have gone from not knowing anything at all about The Lord of the Rings, to being a massive fan, via this excellent musical with an exceptional cast.

It’s a must-see, whether you are a fan of the Lord of the Rings franchise or not — an experience you will not soon forget.