Shrek the Musical
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Cititour.com Review
Everything about Shrek the Musical, is bouncy and fun, but unlike the cartoon film that it’s adapted from, the stage version lacks the smooth energy that drives the clever animated flick - and made it a hit. The story of the ogre who falls in love, and learns to have friends with the help of well-know fairy tale characters like Pinocchio is intact, but the execution is less than magic.
Sutton Foster is Princess Fiona and she never fails to deliver her crystal belt, warm smile and impeccable comic timing. Daniel Breaker, so outstanding as the young man in last year’s “Passing Strange”, is having a jovial time as Shrek’s pal, the talking donkey. Christopher Sieber is having a ball on his knees as the diminutive villain, Lord Farquaad. Brian Darcy James is a powerful presence even under all that green make-up in the title role.
This “Shrek” not only specializes in the flatulence of its characters, it tries to raise it to a high art form. No matter, this bathroom humor makes little kids giggle and the target audience is thrilled with all the silliness here. And there is a lot to like with colorful sets and costumes from Tim Hatley, atmospheric lighting from Hugh Vanstone, and a superior cast adding buoyancy.
But the score from Jeanine Tesori is hardly memorable and the book and lyrics from David Lindsay-Abaire, although clever at times, seem formulaic. From “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” to the current “Avenue Q”, veiled theater references abound and in “Shrek", the subjects include “Gypsy”, “The Lion King,” and many others. Unfortunately such attempts to bring in avid theatergoers fail to broaden the scope of this children’s show.
Director Jason Moore, who also directed the aforementioned “Avenue Q”, may keep “Shrek” on course, but it’s plagued by sluggish pacing offering a by-the-numbers presentation that may keep very small children laughing, but will have their parents checking their watches.
By Lesley Alexander
Visit the Site
http://www.shrekthemusical.com
Cast
Brian D'Arcy James, Sutton Foster, Chester Gregory II, Christopher Sieber, John Tartaglia, Kecia Lewis-Evans
Open/Close Dates
Opening 11/11/2008
Closing 1/3/2010
Box Office
(212) 239-6200
Theatre Info
Broadway Theatre
1681 Broadway
New York, NY 10019
Map
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