“Shrek the Musical”

[rating=5] Leave it to Marriott Theatre and their staff to bring a huge musical to their in-the-round- stage with just the right touch. Under the leadership of Director Scott Weinstein, they are doing a mini version of “Shrek the Musical” that is perfect fare for the entire family. Yes, from a three year old to an 80 year old, everyone will have the time of their lives with this 70 minutes of musical merriment. “Shrek the Musical” is  a take on the classic fairy tales of the past, but with an unlikely hero, an ogre, named Shrek (Shea Coffman is a perfect ogre) who lives in the swamp. As a child, his parents sent him to live on his own and he has survived well. All of a sudden his life is transformed as the ruler of Ducat, a nearby town, exiles all of the other fairly tale characters to his swamp. From Pinocchio, to the Three Little Pigs, Peter Pan, the Gingerbread Man and many more. The monarch, who wants to be king, Farquaad ( deftly handled by Steven Strafford) must find a queen and to do so and he has heard that a princess has been kept in a tower nearby for years. If he frees her, she will be his ( or so the fairy tales always go).

Shrek wants his swamp back, and to do so he  agrees to go rescue the Princess for Farquaad , knowing that the other characters will be allowed back in Ducat for the Royal wedding. Along the way, he is assisted by ( an amazing and powerful portrayal by Jonathan Butler-Duplessis, who does great with these odd characters) who becomes his side-kick/best friend. They make it to the castle tower which is protected by a dragon ( some unique puppetry ) and a solid ensemble truly make this all seem almost real. The Princess, Fiona (played to perfection by Jacqueline Jones with two other girls portraying her in the history of her years in the tower) we later learn has her own secrets, one of which is a curse. As Donkey, Fiona and Shrek trek back to Ducat, we learn a great deal about them and their lives with a wonderful scene between Shrek and Fiona that could only lead to true love ( one of the funniest love scenes ever done on a stage).

The ensemble is delightful, changing costumes and characters in seconds. Sara Reinecke, Liam Quealy, Sarah Ohlson, Garrett Lutz, Ron King, Jersie Joniak, Keirsten Hodgens, Rachel Guth, Landree Fleming and Stephen Allen Jr. They are terrific! The choreography is divinely done by William Carlos Angulo and the music direction by Matt Deitchman. Since the Children’s Theater shares the stage with the regular performances, they have utilized the video screens from “Sweet Charity” to bring some quality projections ( Anthony Churchill) that add to the flavor and the story. The set is limited but the props are magical (Kristin Martino) and the lighting (Jesse Klug) and sound (Robert E. Gilmartin) as always ,perfect. The costumes by Theresa Ham are wonderful and fill the stage with color and life. The puppetry is adorable and Keirstem Hodgens does a mean Dragon voice!

My grandkids were tied up again, so I went to my back-up reviewer Lily Kienzie (9) of Lake Forest who said” I loved “Shrek”. It was hilarious. I really liked the Princess character and the donkey was terrific”! Her friend Kate Walters( also 9) said “I thought the play was so funny! My favorite performers were Donkey and Fiona”!

They stayed after for the actors/audience dialogue which they enjoyed. If you do go, you may find this to be a very interesting theatrical experience for you and your family!

The schedule for this must see production which continues thru December 30th ( great holiday gift idea) is

Wednesdays thru Sundays at 10 a.m. and added performances at 12:30 on Saturdays starting November 24th .

There will be NO performances October 29th-November 16th and on 12/1 no 12:20 p.m. show, just the morning.

SOLD OUT: 11/14, 18th, 19th and 20th

No performance on November 22nd- Thanksgiving

Marriott Theatre is located at 10 Marriott Drive in Lincolnshire. Just south of Route 22, Half Day Road and east of Route 21, Milwaukee Avenue with loads of free parking.

Tickets are $18.23 per person call 847-634-0200 or visit www.MarriottTheatre.com

To see what others are saying, visit http://www.theatreinchicago.comgo to Review Round-Up and click at “Shrek the Musical”.