Whether it be a Beast ("Beauty and the Beast") or an Ogre ("Shrek --The Musical") we know they will meet a princess and the curtain will
come down when they reach the "Happy Ever After" time in life. It is the
musical journey they take to that end that a show is based on and there
is enough to hold both an adults and a child's interest in "Shrek --The Musical." As in the original animated movie there are many
references to pop culture to keep the older folks happy while their
children and/or grandchildren are kept busy with all the fairy tale
creatures from all the stories they have read.

Special kudos have to go to the original costume and set designer Tim Hatley along with James Krozner and Austin K. Sanderson who adapted his ideas for the tour. There are
so many dazzling costumes and sets, constantly changing, that sometimes
they take away from the players.

With
a cast of 24, many doing multiple roles, and an orchestra of 9, all get
a spot to shine in the production with books and lyrics by David
Lindsay-Abaire and music by Jeanine Tesori .

Lucas Post as Shrek captures the humor and warmth of the character and sings his solos "Who
I'd Be" and "When Words Fail" with power and feelings. Liz Shivener , as Princess Fiona, is a good foil for, and with, Shrek getting all the humor out of "I Think I Got You Beat", the wistfulness
of "I Know It's Today" though the harmony with the two younger Fionas isn't as good as it should/could be. Opening the second act with "Morning Person" singing and tap dancing all out Shivener delivers the goods and you just know that the 7 and 8 year old girls in
the audience are picturing themselves up there taking her place in the
future.

Andre
Jordan, as the donkey, does the best he can with a role that was
written for Eddie Murphy in the film that doesn't allow Jordan for much
leeway on stage but he works hard to make it his own. Merrit David Janes , as Lord Farquaad , has a difficult time with his role for several reasons because it is
underwritten and after the first few 'short legs' and 'short' gags the
audience members spend a lot of time wondering how the mechanics of
those legs can be so tiny on a grown man work.

Pinocchio (Luke Yellin ), Peter Pan (Chase Todd), Ugly Duckling (Annie Fitch), the Fairy
Godmother (Erin Sullivan) and all the other fairy tale creatures acquit
themselves well and sell "Freak Flag" as an ensemble.

Note must be made of the 4 dragon handlers and KellyTeal Goyette who voices her.

"Shrek--The
Musical" ends on a high note with the whole company doing a clap your
hands, stand up and shout version of "I'm A Believer."

As
a side note though it gives me special pleasure to see kids coming to
the theatre after "The Addams Family", "Beauty and the Beast" and "Shrek --the Musical" I must admit I am ready for the grown up musical "Million Dollar Quartet" coming to Miami the end of this month!

Strobe lights--theatrical haze--fog

Act 1 an hour and 8 minutes   Intermission 21 minutes   Act 2  an hour and 40 minutes
Total time 2 hours and 33 minutes