Mrs Doubtfire The Musical is based on the much-loved 1993 film starring the late Robin Williams. It opened on Broadway in 2021, premiered in Manchester in 2022, and transferred to the West End in 2023. It’s now on its first major UK & Ireland tour, launching at Birmingham Hippodrome, where it plays until the middle of next month.

At the beginning of the show, out-of-work actor Daniel Hillard (Gabriel Vick, who has played the title role since its run in the West End) loses a bitter custody battle for his three children following a messy divorce from his wife, Miranda (Kara Lily Hayworth). Desperate to remain in the lives of his kids, Daniel reinvents himself. With the help of his flamboyant make-up-artist brother, Frank, and husband Andre (portrayed to brilliant comic effect by Ryan Pidgen and Jairus McClanahan respectively), he creates the character of Euphegenia Doubtfire, a formidable Scottish nanny who Miranda ends up hiring to look after the children.

Chaos explodes on stage as Daniel quickly learns the importance of responsible parenting, and also faces up to the challenges of managing conflicting family dynamics without blowing his cover!

Set, like the film, in San Francisco, the stage show successfully captures all the crucial elements of the iconic movie but also comes complete with catchy, uplifting music and fabulously choreographed dance routines. The time frame is updated and makes references both to technology and pop culture that didn’t exist when the film was released over 30 years ago. Watch out for Mrs Doubtfire turning off the WiFi until the children have done their homework, and her hilarious attempts - including a nifty tap-dancing routine - to be more creative in the kitchen by watching celebrity-chef YouTube videos!

Gabriel Vick is simply outstanding as Mrs Doubtfire, creating not only laugh-out-loud moments but also plenty of poignant ones. His comic timing is faultless. Consistently funny and breathtakingly energetic, he further impresses with the staggering speed of his costume changes. I particularly enjoyed a fast-paced flamenco-style dance routine set in a restaurant, during which Daniel frantically swaps back and forth between himself and his alter-ego. There’s also a hilarious and highly energetic Riverdance dream sequence, which sees seven different actors - all dressed as Mrs Doubtfire - Irish dancing to a fast-paced musical number.

The production might easily have cast Miranda as the villain of the piece - a mother stopping a fun-loving father from seeing his children - but thankfully it avoids doing so. The show instead makes clear to its audience that she, too, is struggling with the situation, exhausted from the experience of being married to a man-child who is palpably incapable of setting and maintaining boundaries either for himself or their children. Kara Lily Hayworth gives a vocally powerful performance in the role. The undoubted highlight is her rendition of Let Go, a song explaining her heartbreaking decision to divorce Daniel, both for the sake of her own identity and for the wellbeing of their children.

This is a show with plenty to recommend it: impressive vocal talent, even more impressive supporting-cast and ensemble performances - including the children - amazing choreography, brilliant sets and great costumes (especially Mrs Doubtfire’s). If you loved the film, you’ll find plenty to enjoy here. If you’ve never seen the movie, fear not - this is a vibrant family-friendly musical theatre event that very much stands on its own two feet as a work of entertainment.

Five stars

Mrs Doubtfire The Musical was reviewed by Sue Hull on Thursday 20 August at Birmingham Hippodrome, where it shows until Saturday 19 September.