Synopsis
Shrek the Musical brings the beloved DreamWorks film to life in a colourful and heartfelt stage adaptation filled with humour, adventure and unexpected romance. The story follows Shrek, a gruff but good-hearted ogre who lives alone in his swamp — until a group of fairy-tale creatures are banished there by the tiny tyrant Lord Farquaad. Determined to reclaim his peace and quiet, Shrek strikes a deal to rescue Princess Fiona from a dragon-guarded tower so that Farquaad can marry her and restore order. Along the way, Shrek is joined by the fast-talking Donkey, and together they discover that friendship and love can be found in the most unlikely places. Featuring an original score by Jeanine Tesori with book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire, the musical celebrates acceptance, individuality and the joy of being true to oneself.
Reviews
“It is the most ingeniously wacky, transcendently tasteless Broadway musical since The Producers, and more family-friendly than that gag-fest. … Leading man Brian d’Arcy James may have to conceal his boyish good looks, but his Shrek is an adorable hero and, despite his blubbery prosthetics, an expressive one. James’ delightfully playful, at times plaintive performance leaves no doubt this guy’s just a chartreuse cherub.”
USA Today
“As embodied by Brian d’Arcy James and Sutton Foster in a breezy song called “I Think I Got You Beat,” Shrek the ogre and Fiona the princess find a chemistry that’s more than merely gaseous. In the best tradition of screwball comedy, they transform glowery friction into dewy-eyed romance. And a show that has been trying way too hard to entrance us suddenly relaxes into goofy, genuine charm.”
The New York Times