MusicalLatestReviewsMrs Doubtfire: The Musical

Mrs Doubtfire UK Tour Review: Helloooo, Plymouth! Does This Musical Bring the House Down?

The world’s favourite Scottish nanny is back! Mrs Doubtfire has arrived at Theatre Royal Plymouth as part of its first UK and Ireland tour, bringing the much-loved Robin Williams film to the stage with plenty of music, mayhem and family drama. But can the musical capture the magic of the original?

Copyright: Cover Image and Tour Images (Matt Crockett)

Helloooo, poppets!

There are some films that are so beloved that the idea of turning them into a stage musical comes with a certain amount of pressure. And when that film happens to star the late, great Robin Williams in one of his most recognisable roles, those are some pretty big shoes to fill. Or perhaps, in this case, an enormous wig, a floral dress and a rather convincing Scottish accent.

Mrs Doubtfire became a firm family favourite following its release in 1993, combining outrageous comedy with a surprisingly touching story about divorce, parenthood and the lengths one father will go to remain part of his children’s lives.

Now the story has been given the musical theatre treatment, with the hit West End production heading around the UK and Ireland and stopping off at Theatre Royal Plymouth.

And what a delight it is!

This is a show absolutely bursting with charm, energy and some genuinely outrageous comedy. It’s big, it’s bold, it’s wonderfully silly and, perhaps most importantly, it has a huge heart. There were moments when I was laughing so much that I barely had time to recover before the next joke came flying along. But beneath all the wigs, disguises and increasingly ridiculous situations, there’s a warmth to this production that makes it much more than simply a collection of familiar jokes from the film.

And having now seen two performers take on the famous frock, I can safely say that Mrs Doubtfire is in very capable hands indeed.

From Hollywood favourite to musical comedy

For anyone unfamiliar with the story, Daniel Hillard is an out-of-work actor whose marriage to Miranda has fallen apart. Desperate to spend more time with his children, he comes up with the rather extraordinary idea of disguising himself as an elderly Scottish nanny and applying for a job looking after them.

Enter Euphegenia Doubtfire.

What follows is a wonderfully ridiculous situation involving mistaken identities, increasingly complicated lies and one father trying desperately to keep his secret while remaining close to the people he loves most.

It is a premise that provided Robin Williams with countless opportunities for comedy on screen, and the challenge for this musical is finding a way to recreate that same magic without simply becoming an imitation of the film.

Thankfully, this production manages that rather well.

There are plenty of familiar moments for fans of the original film to enjoy, but the musical has enough personality of its own to stand on its own two feet. The comedy is wonderfully exaggerated, the pace rarely lets up and the whole thing feels like a great big theatrical embrace.

It’s outrageously hilarious in places, with the sort of comedy that has the audience laughing together rather than simply chuckling politely. And while some of the situations are completely ridiculous, that’s half the fun. You know perfectly well that Daniel’s elaborate disguise is going to lead to disaster, but watching him attempt to keep everything under control is an absolute joy.

Two Doubtfires, one exceptional performance

Taking on a character made famous by Robin Williams is no easy task, but Gabriel Vick has already made the role his own following his time in the original London production.

However, for our reviewed performance at Theatre Royal Plymouth, we were treated to alternate Adam Colbeck-Dunn in the role of Daniel Hillard and Mrs Doubtfire.

And what an exceptional performance he gave!

Having also had the opportunity to see Gabriel Vick in the role earlier in the week, I was particularly interested to see how the two interpretations compared. And the wonderful thing is that while there are some differences in the impressions and little character details, the overall quality of the performance is equally impressive.

Adam is absolutely superb, bringing tremendous energy, brilliant comic timing and a wonderfully engaging personality to the role. It’s a demanding part that requires an enormous amount of physical comedy, singing, character work and the ability to switch between Daniel and his elderly alter ego, often at a quite ridiculous pace.

Yet he makes the whole thing look effortless.

What I particularly enjoyed was that he didn’t feel like somebody simply standing in for the principal performer. This was a fully realised, confident and thoroughly entertaining performance in its own right. The comedy landed beautifully, the character was full of warmth and he had the audience completely on his side.

And of course, there’s the transformation itself. The costumes, make-up and quick changes are all part of the fun, with the increasingly frantic situations giving the production some of its biggest laughs. Whether you happen to catch Gabriel or Adam in the famous cardigan, you’re in for a treat. Having seen both, I certainly wouldn’t consider one experience any less worthwhile than the other.

That’s quite a compliment when you’re talking about a character as iconic as Mrs Doubtfire.

A talented cast brings the Hillard family to life

Of course, Mrs Doubtfire is about far more than its leading character, and the wider company has an important role in balancing the comedy with the emotional heart of the story. Kara Lily Hayworth plays Miranda Hillard, Daniel’s estranged wife, while Aaliya Mai takes on the role of their eldest daughter, Lydia. James Darch plays Stuart Dunmire, with Ryan Pidgen and Jairus McClanahan appearing as Frank Hillard and Andre Mayem.

And what a talented company this is!

The younger performers deserve particular praise. Their vocals are excellent, and they bring the story to life with such confidence and natural charm that you quickly become invested in the family at the centre of all the madness. It’s easy for the children in a production like this to become overshadowed by the enormous personality of Mrs Doubtfire herself, but that certainly isn’t the case here. They have a real presence on stage and contribute enormously to the warmth and emotional appeal of the story.

Kara Lily Hayworth is equally impressive as Miranda, bringing strength and vulnerability to a character who could so easily become little more than the frustrated mother trying to keep everything together. Instead, she feels like a real person dealing with a difficult situation, and that gives the story an important emotional balance.

James Darch also makes a strong impression as Stuart, Miranda’s new love interest, adding another enjoyable dynamic to the increasingly complicated family situation. The wider company is full of personality, and there’s a real sense that everyone is throwing themselves into the production with tremendous enthusiasm.

One of the things that made the original film so successful was the balance between its outrageous comedy and the genuine emotion of a family struggling to adjust to a new reality.

And thankfully, the musical hasn’t forgotten that.

Does Mrs Doubtfire work as a musical?

The biggest question surrounding any film-to-stage adaptation is whether the addition of songs genuinely enhances the story or simply provides an excuse to turn a familiar title into another musical.

With music and lyrics by Wayne Kirkpatrick and Karey Kirkpatrick, Mrs Doubtfire introduces a collection of original songs alongside the comedy and family drama. The good news is that the musical numbers fit comfortably into this wonderfully chaotic world.

There are some excellent vocals throughout, particularly from the younger members of the cast, and the company delivers the songs with tremendous confidence and energy. It’s a production that rarely sits still for long, and the music helps keep everything moving along at a lively pace.

But one of the biggest strengths is undoubtedly the choreography.

Lorin Latarro’s routines are full of character, humour and wonderfully inventive movement. There are some terrific ensemble sequences that bring the stage to life, with the performers tackling the choreography with precision and infectious enthusiasm.

The musical numbers feel like proper theatrical events rather than simply pauses in the story for somebody to sing, and that’s always a good sign.

The production also makes excellent use of costumes and physical comedy, particularly when Mrs Doubtfire is at the centre of the action. There’s a glorious sense of organised chaos to some of the bigger sequences, with so much happening that you almost don’t know where to look.

Now, if I’m being a little picky, I do think the scenery could have been slightly slicker in places.

The set certainly does its job, and there are some effective transitions between locations, but occasionally I felt the production could have benefited from a little more polish in the way the scenery moves and the different settings come together. It’s not a major criticism, and it certainly doesn’t spoil the evening, but in a show where so much else is delivered with such confidence and precision, those little moments become slightly more noticeable.

That said, the overall staging works well, and the production has more than enough theatrical sparkle to keep the audience entertained.

Plenty of laughs, but does it have the heart?

There is no denying that Mrs Doubtfire has one of the most recognisable premises in comedy cinema. But beneath all the disguises, misunderstandings and outrageous situations, there has always been a rather touching story about a father who loves his children. And that’s what makes this musical such a charming experience.

Yes, it’s outrageously funny. Yes, some of the jokes are wonderfully ridiculous. And yes, there are moments when the whole thing descends into the sort of glorious chaos that only musical theatre can get away with.

But there’s also a genuine sweetness running through the production.

The relationship between Daniel and his children gives the story its emotional centre, while Miranda’s perspective reminds us that beneath the comedy there’s a family trying to find a new way forward.

The performers handle that balance beautifully, never allowing the more emotional moments to feel overly sentimental or the comedy to completely overwhelm the story.

And that’s quite an achievement when your leading character is an actor pretending to be an elderly Scottish nanny!

I particularly enjoyed how much warmth the children brought to the production. Their performances help make the family relationships believable, and that in turn makes the comedy even more effective because you genuinely care about the people involved. It’s a show that makes you laugh, smile and occasionally feel a little tug at the heartstrings.

What more could you ask from a night at the theatre?

Is Mrs Doubtfire worth seeing on its UK tour?

Oh, absolutely, dear!

Mrs Doubtfire: The Musical is a wonderfully entertaining evening that manages to capture the spirit of the much-loved film while finding plenty of opportunities to have some fun of its own.

It’s packed with charm, outrageous comedy, excellent vocals and some fabulous choreography. The young performers are particularly impressive, Kara Lily Hayworth brings real strength to Miranda, and the wider company delivers an energetic and thoroughly enjoyable production.

And then there’s our leading lady.

Having now seen both Gabriel Vick and alternate Adam take on the iconic role, I can confidently say that audiences are in very safe hands. Both bring something slightly different to the character, but both deliver exceptional performances that capture the humour and warmth needed to make Mrs Doubtfire work.

Could the scenery have been a little slicker? Yes, I think so. But it’s a relatively small criticism in an otherwise hugely enjoyable production.

This is a musical that comes remarkably close to earning the full five stars, and I suspect it will leave plenty of audiences with enormous smiles on their faces.

Whether you’re a lifelong fan of the Robin Williams film or simply looking for a brilliantly funny night out, Mrs Doubtfire is well worth a visit.

So grab your handbag, straighten your wig and prepare for a thoroughly entertaining evening.

Help is on the way, dear… and she’s brought one fabulous musical with her!

Matinee Dog rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Mrs Doubtfire plays Theatre Royal Plymouth until 7 November 2026 before continuing its UK and Ireland tour.

Reviewed: 28 October 2026, Theatre Royal Plymouth.

Tickets: https://theatreroyal.com/whats-on/mrs-doubtfire/