Reviewed by Karen Schwartzkopf
Shrek: The Musical, the latest production from Virginia Rep now playing at the Children’s Theatre of Virginia, is a rare animal – family entertainment that’s fully loaded with laughs, memorable music, plus an inspired message that will resonate with you and your kids. “What makes us special, makes us strong!”
Part love story, part twisted fairy tale, the award-winning 2001 film Shrek, poked fun at traditional Disney princess flicks where life was just a string of sappy, happy endings. Shrek: The Musical follows the same plotline as the movie. Our hero, a smelly, cantankerous ogre named Shrek played expertly (accent and all!) by Jason Marks is used to getting treated abysmally. In the opening number, his own parents send him out into the “Big, Bright, Beautiful World” at the tender age of seven with a warning: “Watch out for men with pitchforks!” And a bitter reality pill: “You’re ugly son, which means life is harder. People hate the things they cannot understand.”
Throughout the course of the show’s nineteen songs, emotional truths are revealed at every turn. When Shrek’s swamp is overrun by a band of fairytale freaks who are refugees evicted from the Land of Duloc for being different, the ogre vows to reclaim their land, if only to settle back into his solitary swamp existence. Alas, the solitary life is not to be for Shrek. Enter Donkey, played with comedic savoir-faire by Ronnie Brown (my 13-year-old referred to him as the bomb-diggety) who is determined to befriend Shrek and make the most out of a road-trip opportunity.
And then we meet Fiona, (thank you Aly Wepplo for nailing our favorite character!). One of the show’s most impressive numbers, “I Know It’s Today,” uses three Fionas to introduce us to the princess with a mysterious secret – and a fiery attitude. The years unfold before our eyes as we learn Fiona (young girl, teen, and adult performers blending vocals superbly) had been locked in a tower at a young age to await “true love’s kiss.”
Meanwhile, Shrek and Donkey arrive at Duloc to meet Lord Farquaad who’s half the man he thinks he is (yuk, yuk, yuk!) and demand that the fairytale freaks’ land be restored. Farquaad (played by Robert King employing a clever gimmick) immediately dispatches Shrek and Donkey on a different quest, to rescue said fiery redhead from a tower so that he might marry her. If they succeed, Farquaad will lay off Pinocchio and his gang: the Wicked Witch, Humpty Dumpty, Gingerbread Boy, Big Bad Wolf, Three Mice, Three Little Pigs, and believe it or not – lots of other fairytale creatures. In the course of this quest, Donkey meets his match – and presumably his own true love, in the beautiful and misunderstood Dragon, played by Ashlee Arden Heyward.
One of the most remarkable things about Shrek: The Musical is the highly effective use of space and talent by director Robin Arthur. Whether it’s an ensemble number (like the crazy contagious “Let Your Freak Flag Fly” from the fairytale creatures) or a stirring solo (Shrek’s “When Words Fail”), or an unforgettable duet (Donkey and Dragon’s “Donkey Pot Pie”) order is
always maintained on the smallish stage of the Children’s Theatre, conveniently located for families at Willow Lawn. The choreography is equally amazing. Particularly noteworthy is Fiona’s jam,
“Morning Person” and her charming dance with a tap-dancing rat-pack.
At first I thought we might have enjoyed this show more at November Theatre, but ultimately declared the smaller venue at Children’s Theatre was the right choice. That said, Shrek: The Musical is by no means a kiddie show. At two-and-a-half hours (including 15-minute intermission) it’s suggested for six and up, but if you have a 4- or 5-year-old at home who can stay focused through a full-length movie, (a Frozen fan let’s say) you should choose a matinee and bring him or her along for the family fun. As longtime fans of this music, I had investigated seeing it on Broadway, but decided to cross my fingers and hope a company would be brave enough to stage Shrek: The Musical in Richmond.
Which goes to show you, some fairytale dreams come true for
musical-loving families!
From the opening song to the post-curtain call finale that had the entire house on its feet – and yes, even out to the lobby, where you can meet and greet these amazing talents in character, you will take absolute delight in the big, bright, but frankly, not always beautiful world of Shrek: The Musical.
Shrek: The Musical plays at Children’s Theatre of Virginia through April 27. Tickets are available at Virginia Rep or call 804-282-2620 for showtimes, tickets, and info on savings for groups of ten or more.
Save $2 on Friday night performances using code SHREKRFM.
