It’s been some time since I’ve seen the infamous computer-animated DreamWorks film about the solitude-loving ogre who finds his life disrupted by a group of faery tale characters forced into his swamp. Shrek The Musical opened at the Pantages Theatre this week for a limited, three-week run. With catchy, upbeat music, a heartwarming story, and awe-inspiring visuals, Shrek The Musical is certain to resonate with both young and old alike.
Photo Credit: Pantages Theatre
The musical is based on the film, which won the first ever Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, and the book by William Steig. Shrek The Musical follows the story of an unsightly ogre who’s aiming to regain ownership of his swamp. Lord Farquaad, who’s impressed with Shrek’s stature, offers Shrek his solitude in exchange for rescuing the princess he’s to marry. But this princess is more than meets the eye. She embodies sass, grace, and a few quirks that bond her and Shrek in unexpected ways. What ensues is a laugh-out-loud quest, complete with a talking donkey, to save Fiona from her plight.
Photo Credit: Pantages Theatre
The stage has a way of drawing audiences in to the characters and their stories in ways a movie cannot. From the elaborate sets and costumes to the lively, colorful music, Shrek The Musical delves deeper into the story of the somewhat irreverent, misunderstood, genuinely likeable ogre. The sets and costumes alone are “big, bright, and beautiful.” Eric Petersen, who played Shrek on Broadway, is brilliant. He embodies the character of Shrek with his strong voice and burly mannerisms. Donkey, played by Alan Mingo, Jr. is hilarious. He brings dimension and color to the production and stands out as my favorite from the show. David F. M. Vaughn, also from the original Broadway run, plays an impressive Lord Farquaad. He is a strong, believable villain who’s evil is slightly deflected by the fact that he spends the entire show time on his knees. Princess Fiona, played by Haven Burton who played Gingy in the original Broadway production, is everything a princess should be…almost. When the sun goes down, her inner ogre comes out. She manages to remain graceful in her mannerisms, even when she’s being irreverent.
Photo Credit: Pantages Theatre
My favorite aspect of musical theatre is the music (naturally). The score of 19 brand new songs add depth to the production. I loved the mix of hip, upbeat tunes and and slower, pensive ballads. In the first act Young Fiona, Teen Fiona, and Adult Fiona belt out a beautiful ballad about that day in the future when she’ll be rescued from her plight. Be sure to pay special attention to the lyrics in Freak Flag and I Think I’ve Got You Beat.
As I was watching the show, I started picking up on references to other theatrical productions. You can view the entire list on Wikipedia, but my favorites were Lord Farquaad’s reference to Defying Gravity from Wicked, the Dragon’s reference to And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going from Dreamgirls, a reference to Cosette from Les Misérables during Freak Flag, and Donkey’s reference to Take Me or Leave Me from Rent during Don’t Let Me Go.
Shrek The Musical is a bold, colorful production that will entertain and amuse you. See it at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood through July 31st.
No compensation was received for this post. Media ticket provided.
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