***** Over the years, we have seen animated films turned into staged musicals, as well as staged musicals turned into films and so it goes, back and forth. When it comes to cartoons ( or animated films, as they prefer to be called), the conversion is a wee bit more difficult.
The animated films use voices of familiar stars, thus when we see a play with “live” actors we are not seeing what we are used to hearing. For example, in “Shrek: The Musical” now being done as the holiday production at Music Theater Works, we will not hear the voices of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphey, Cameron Diaz, John Lithgow or the myriad of actors and comics that were used in the Dream Works film.
Based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks Animation film,” Shrek: The Musical” brings the favorite animated characters to life, from Fiona ( a solid performance by Dani Pike )to Donkey (played to perfection by Eustace J. Williams) to the Gingerbread Cookie'( Crystal Claros)’s ongoing fights with Pinocchio ( deftly handled by Michaela Shapiro). Of course, this play depends on a strong and powerful Shrek and Jordan DeBose truly grams the hearts of the audience. Winning Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Book and Best Original Score, the book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire and music by Jeanine Tessori prove that there is more to this story than meets the eyes and ears.
Smoothly directed by Johanna McKenzie Miller, who seems to have had as much fun putting this piece together as the audience did watching it and with clever choreography by Laura Savage, the show moves quickly, although it is over 2 1/2 hours with one intermission. ( little ones might have a problem with the time element). As always Music Theater Works has a full orchestra of 15 pieces under the solid direction of Linda Madonia.
Ann Davis has been one busy set designer creating the swamps, a kingdom and all the other sets that are part of the storyline. This is a short run production but lacks nothing in set or costumes (Rachel M. Sypniewski) and fantasy make-up (Pia Macias). Even Pinocchio’s nose grows when a lie is spoken. Amber Wuttke handles the fight and intimacy choreography and the puppetry was a delight. I also was quite impressed with the handling of the character Lord Farquaad ( a masterful job by Michael Metcalf) who is the villian in this story. He is the bad guy who sends all of the cartoon and nursery rhyme characters to the swamp. By the way, that is where Shrek has his home.
For those who don’t know the story, Farquaad wants to wed a princess ( who is in a tower and has been since childhood) so he can become king. We will later learn more about why Fiona has been locked away ( by the way, there are two other actresses who bring this character to life at different stages of it-Omi LIchtenstein as young Fiona and Shaya Harris as “teen” Fiona- both were brilliant). When we learn why Fiona was put in the tower, we will realize why the story is headed where it is headed. DON”T WANT TO REVEAL TO MUCH!
Let me just say, it works and this huge cast is responsible for that happening. One can feel the love of each cast member in the story itself and the crew that has made it happen. It is a short run for sure, BUT one that you should make every effort to see.
Presented by Music Theater Works
“Shrek: The Musical” will continue Thru – Dec 31, with performances as follows:
Fri, Dec 22:8:00pmShow Type: Children/Family
Box Office: 847-673-6300
More Stories
The Neil Diamond Musical :”A Beautiful Mind”
“Annie”
“Every Brilliant Thing” reviewed by Julia W. Rath