The Lightning Thief - MK Theatre
- leejamesscriven
- Sep 4
- 2 min read
Anyone seeking modern day theatrical escapism, should head for MK Theatre this week for the brilliantly staged production The Lightning Thief. It’s a fast paced, enjoyable and an exciting show with twists, surprises, special effects and infectious music for all ages to enjoy.
Since Rick Riordan first conceived his story about a “half-blood” son of a Greek god with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and dyslexia, the Percy Jackson phenomenon has grown bigger and bigger.
Based on the beloved book series (with over 180 million copies sold worldwide), Percy Jackson’s story has been adapted into both films and a major hit TV series for Disney+. The musical first premiered off-Broadway in 2014 to rave reviews and went on to have two US tours.
This bold musical is reprising the first story in the series, in which Percy discovers that his absent father is Poseidon, the god of the sea. After being sent to a camp for young demigods, he sets off on a quest to retrieve Zeus’s stolen lightning bolt.
Leading the charge (and wielding the lightning bolt!) is Vasco Emauz as the one and only Percy Jackson, joined by Kayna Montecillo as the wise and fearless Annabeth, and Cahir O’Neill as everyone's favourite satyr sidekick, Grover.
The staging and production design is superb. Cleverly bringing mythical creatures to life, especially the Minotaur, was great. And the illusion of Hermes’ flying shoes was very clever, impressive and effective. As you would expect with a show of this quality, the lighting and set worked together with ease. Plus, the live band gave the production genuine warmth.
If you are like me, and have not come across Percy’s plight before, you will at times find the overall plot hard to follow. But the the spectacle and the narrative style of songs kept you up to speed and the entertainment levels high.
Theatre needs new shows to attract new audiences and The Lightning Thief meets the brief and provides a welcome bolt of modern-day theatre.
Comments