With a cast of actor musicians, Zorro the musical blazes into the Charing Cross Theatre bringing the thrills of flamenco dance and cante jondo or deep song.  Directed by Christian Durham, this is the version with the book and lyrics by Stephen Clark from a story by him and Helen Edmundson.  Besides the iconic music of the Gypsy Kings, John Cameron has written additional music.  Director Christian Durham has adapted this  production.

Although I had seen Zorro in 2008, the version at Charing Cross has the audience banked either side of the stage for fully immersive action.  It is a big party!  What this production loses in magic tricks, it replaces with exciting duels at close quarters by fight director Renny Krupinski and fight captain Matthew Heywood.

The story you can read in the 2008 review is of the prodigal son who returns to find his father presumed dead and his brother an autocratic and cruel ruler of the pueblo in small town Los Angeles dated 1805.  He is Diego de la Vega (Benjamin Purkiss) and he brings back with him from Spain a gypsy troupe with the beautiful and fiery Inez (Phoebe Panaretos).  Diego has been found in Spain by his childhood sweetheart Luisa (Paige Fenlon) who can wield a sword as well as the men.