I was nine years old when the first Shrek movie from Dreamworks played in theaters, but I remember it vividly. The story about a large, green ogre and his found family was striking for its humor and heart, even at such a young age. Shrek’s message about acceptance and true love set itself apart from other children’s movies of the time, which is precisely why it won an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. With a franchise that has been around for two decades and still going strong (with the recently announced Shrek 5), it was only a matter of time before Shrek the Musical was developed.
The original Broadway production, with music by Jeanine Tesori and book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire (the team that wrote the Tony Award-winning Kimberly Akimbo), ran from December 2008 to January 2010. Shrek the Musical was received rather well as a closely followed adaptation of the movie and has continued to see life outside of Broadway proper, with runs in the West End and subsequent tours across the US and the UK. The show was even nominated for eight Tony Awards, winning for Best Costume Design.
It’s been a decade since the last tour in the United States, with Shrek the Musical setting out once again to transport families and theater-goers of all types to a land far, far away. The show is slightly revamped, featuring new direction and choreography from Danny Mefford, and trading a straight adaptation of the film for a more expansive story, Shrek the Musical has made its way into Broadway in Detroit before it sets off to another city to charm another audience. Is Shrek the Musical worth a trip to the swamp, or is staying in the Kingdom of Duloc a better idea? Read on for my breakdown of Shrek the Musical!
[Warning: spoilers from Shrek the Musical are below!]
Shrek the Musical: still the same old ogre we know and love
Shrek The Musical lets audiences know this is a new take on the same story with a new introduction to our protagonist. Instead of beginning with a grown Shrek established in a swamp of his own, Shrek the Musical takes us back to his childhood. At the ripe age of seven, Shrek, played by a puppet at this point, is sent away by his parents to find a life of his own. His parents give him a sandwich and a warning that the world will dislike him because of his looks. Death is the only thing that welcomes him if he gets too close to anyone.
It is a scary notion, especially for a seven-year-old, to explain how adult Shrek (Nicholas Hambruch) has come to be isolated in a swamp. Not that he seems to have a problem with his secluded life. He seems to relish it, so much so that when fairytale creatures show up in his swamp, he’d instead get rid of them. Banished there by Lord Farquaad (Timmy Lewis), Shrek, along with Donkey (Naphtali Yaakov Curry), set off to speak to the ruler of the land and get his swamp back.
Upon arrival at Duloc, Shrek is tasked with a quest: if he wants the storybook creatures removed from his swamp, he must first bring Princess Fiona (Cecily Dionne Davis) to Duloc, so Lord Farquaad can wed her. This is easier said than done, seeing that the princess is stuck in a tower, surrounded by lava, and guarded by an intimidating fire breathing dragon (Tori Kocher). Making quick work of rescuing Fiona and trapping the dragon, the journey back to Duloc is more complicated for our trio.
Not that the trek is filled with danger; quite the contrary, it’s pretty tame compared to a scary dragon. Instead, it’s filled with something much more sinister: personal growth. Shrek grows considerably on the two-day journey from the tower back to Duloc as his feelings for the princess increase.
But Princess Fiona harbors a dark secret of her own, which puts distance between them all. All will be well if she can receive true love’s kiss, but it might not be the person she’s expecting. Fans of the original animated film know what I’m talking about: the stakes present for Fiona and what the future holds for both her and Shrek. However, if you haven’t seen the original film, then you’ll either have to check out the film or, better yet, catch Shrek the Musical when it arrives in a town near you.
Some forgettable songs and odd comedic choices bog down this adaptation
At this point, I’ve seen quite a few musical adaptations of films and books, with many of them suffering similar issues. Some choices are made somewhere in the adaptation pipeline, from silver screen to center stage, that don’t quite mesh with the original story, which sometimes can alienate audiences from the final project. One of the most significant ways I’ve witnessed this is by adding music and lyrics to a story that didn’t have that before. Some musicals, such as The Color Purple or Mrs. Doubtfire, do it well. However, some musicals, such as Frozen and Beauty and the Beast, have forgettable additional songs that take away from the show in parts.
Unfortunately, much of Shrek the Musical’s music was forgettable, with only a few songs being memorable enough that I found myself singing them. The one song that served as an earworm, besides the Duloc song from the film, which does make it into the musical, was “I Know It’s Today,” sung by Fiona.
Not only was the tune incredibly catchy as a power anthem, but having it sung by Fiona in all the stages of her life, as she’s stuck in the tower wishing for her knight to come in and save her, was impactful. It reminded me quite a bit of “When Will My Life Begin” from Tangled, as the princesses in both stories wonder how long they’ll be trapped in their current life situation.
I also enjoyed “Freak Flag,” sung by all the storybook characters once Shrek returns to the swamp after getting Princess Fiona back to Duloc. I loved that it was a song about embracing what makes us different instead of attempting to hide them away from the world. Shrek gets enough courage to return to Duloc and stop Princess Fiona from marrying Lord Farquaad by accepting who he is.
Paired with the music, there were a few comedic moments that should have hit harder, but because of changes for whatever reason, they didn’t. Looking at you, “Welcome to Duloc” song. For those who are fans of the film, perhaps one of the funniest bits of the film, if not all animated cinema period, is the pause given after “Shine our shoes, wash our…” where our minds fill in the blank. For some reason, the pause was removed from the show. I suppose it was to make it more family-friendly, as the word most people assume it is, isn’t appropriate for a PG show; however, it left many around me scratching our heads.
There were quite a few moments in the show where those changes just didn’t have the same impact as the original Shrek. They were made to make the show easier to stage and more accessible, and they don’t ruin the entire experience, so they are easily forgivable in the grand scheme of Shrek the Musical.
A few standout performances make Shrek the Musical fun
All that I said before doesn’t ruin the fun of Shrek the Musical. Most of the original story is intact, with only minor changes here and there, which doesn’t negatively impact the show so much that you can’t enjoy it. In fact, there’s a lot in this show that is fantastic, with the majority of the draw being the immense talent on stage.
Cecily Dionne Davis, our princess in green, stole the show from the moment she stepped onto the stage. I kid you not, I got chills across my entire body from the first note that escaped her lips in “I Know It’s Today.” I knew then that she was absolutely the right call for Princess Fiona, and she proved it in each scene she was in. Her acting was stellar, capturing the spunky and sassy princess perfectly, reminding me so much of Keke Palmer it was ridiculous. Her singing was even better than her acting, if that’s even possible, making Princess Fiona the best character in the entire show.
Our lovably grumpy ogre, Shrek, also known as Nicholas Hambruch, was a strong lead for the musical. His deep voice brought the monster to life, adding a touch of scariness to his hilarity with his roars full of bass. It also gave Shrek a richness to his singing voice, which rumbled with a force that was thrilling to experience. Hambruch also nailed Shrek’s accent, as well as his comedic timing. It’s no easy feat playing a character like Shrek, but he does so wonderfully.
Rounding up the trio of solid lead performances was Naphtali Yaakov Curry as Donkey. Following in the shoes… I mean, hooves, of Eddie Murphy’s beloved animated character, is a challenge, but somehow Curry makes it look easy. He encapsulates what makes Donkey so likable, with impeccable comedic chops that make the audience laugh hysterically. Also, his singing ability was on fire the night I saw the production, which I was shocked by for a character like his. Curry is a force to look out for in this show, and whatever comes next for the actor.
Last, but certainly not least, where would we be with a good, bad guy? Timmy Lewis was incredible as Lord Farquaad, the most fabulously odd leader of Duloc. While this version of Shrek decided not to play up the height difference between Farquaad and the rest, as Lewis is relatively the same height as all the other cast members, they did give the actor other bits to play with. Farquaad is still the same megalomaniac from the film but with a slightly different packaging. You can tell how much fun Lewis has in the role, making his character even more enjoyable. He’s fantastic as the flamboyant Farquaad, adding even more talent and levity to Shrek the Musical.
Catch Shrek the Musical on its National Tour
This musical is perfect for families looking for a fun day out at the theater, as it has something for everyone. There are plenty of jokes that kids can giggle at, but there’s another layer to many of them that adults will engage with differently. The cast is stacked with immense talent, bringing Shrek the Musical to life for all to enjoy.
Shrek the Musical is currently on its North American Tour. Check out Broadway in Detroit for more incredible shows making their way into the 313. Let us know on social media @mycosmiccircus or @boxseatbabes if you’ve seen this musical or plan on checking it out!
Exclusive Interview: Timmy Lewis Talks Shrek the Musical
