Lord of the Rings: A Musical Tale takes time to tell

Renaissance Faire fans can rejoice as Middle Earth returns to media and this time it's as a musical. Lord of the Rings: A Musical Tale features a fantasy world set in medieval times that has been revamped for the year 2024.

In the beginning, the plot is based on the book The Fellowship of the Ring, the hobbit with a heart of gold, Bilbo Baggins, is back and it's his birthday. His retirement plans in the Shire lead to him giving a problematic ring to his cousin Frodo. A group is formed to visit Mount Doom and destroy the piece of jewelry before it falls into the wrong hands.

The players attempt to make the experience as immersive as possible interacting with the audience beforehand and using the aisles for many entrances and exits throughout the show.

Spencer Davis Milford as Frodo Baggins and Michael Kurowski as best friend Samwise Gamgee bring fresh takes on their roles that appear effortless. Tom Amandes as Gandalf and Tony Bozzuto as Gollum are trapped in previous depictions but provide some nuances when the opportunity presents itself.

One of the characters describes their travels as “a short journey” but that is not the case with the first act running over an hour and a half. Just like Gandalf's beard, this production could use a shave as it's a three-hour tour by the time intermission is inserted. By trimming it down this would make the running time not so intimidating. This show sometimes feels like it is climbing a mountain which is in stark contrast to the lightweight treatment it's given by some of the actors who clearly enjoy themselves while making merriment. The 2006 production in Toronto had two intermissions so this version is already an improvement.

The cast intertwines actors and musicians onstage with smooth moves instead of using a large orchestra in that earlier production. The staging conveys a much bigger cast than it actually is and skilled cast members like Ian Maryfield as Gimli display multiple talents with this process.. This premiere musical leans into the source material much better than Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil does at Goodman Theatre playing at the same time.

Embracing J.R.R. Tolkien's book is a smart move and quite fitting because the author was influenced by William Shakespeare's writing. The creatives transfer the poems and stories for this musical rendition with some inspirations from Wicked and The Lion King.

There are many ambitious segments that make Lord of the Rings stand out, such as massive puppets and special effects.

The set is spectacular and the magic can be found in the makeup. The costuming sometimes misses the mark. but for a few, it's a bullseye.

The show is appropriate for a wide range of ages and sensory aids are available at all performances for those with challenges.

Follow your quest over to Navy Pier before Lord of the Rings: A Musical Tale travels on to New Zealand after September 1, 2024. Sorry, Frodo, your journey is not coming to an end anytime soon! Visit chicagoshakes.com for tickets and details.