“Ogres are like onions…” A look at Shrek Reimagined The Musical at Shea’s

The basics: SHREK The Musical at Shea’s Performing Arts Center located at 646 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14202. For tickets: sheas.org or Box Office 716 847 0850. The production will run May 16-19, 2024.

Miniature sketch: Your favorite ogre, Shrek from the beloved 2001 DreamWorks Animation film, is back on stage in a hilarious musical comedy. Shrek finds himself on a life-changing journey alongside a wacky donkey and a feisty princess. Tony Award-winning duo Jeanine Tesori (music) and David Lindsay-Abaire (book) revisit their first collaboration, revising and updating the original 2008 Broadway show. SHREK is a colorful, joyful show that s taps into the humanity within each of us, celebrating our differences and emphasizing the importance of loving ourselves and each other.

Duration: Duration approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes, one intermission.

The players, the play and the production: They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, or the ogre in the case of Shrek The Musical. It’s a “big, bright, beautiful world” and we’re in on it. Shrek, our foul-mouthed, foul-mouthed man, leads a group of well-known fairy tale misfits on an adventure to save a princess and find true acceptance. Part romance, part twisted fairy tale, Shrek is a fun, irreverent series with a powerful message for the whole family.

SHREK The Musical has been delighting audiences since its Broadway release in 2008. Starring Brian d’Arcy James in the title role, Sutton Foster as the feisty Fiona, Christopher Sieber as Lord Farquaad and Daniel Breaker as l’Âne, the show was a resounding success. running for a little over a year. I’ve seen it on Broadway about ten times; the casting was sublime and you left the theater happy and uplifted. I have been a fan of Mr. D’Arcy James, Miss Foster, and Mr. Sieber since each of them began their careers. It was a dream casting for me. Since its closure, Shrek the Musical has continued to captivate audiences in the West End, on national tours and on Broadway on demand. I haven’t seen a production since the Broadway version, but my expectations were high for this production.

On Tuesday evening, our fellow Western New Yorkers walked through the doors of Shea’s to enjoy the big green guy we know and love (not the Incredible Hulk). This time he sings, dances, and cavorts to the same silly, over-the-top musical numbers from the original Broadway show, but this show was changed from what I had seen before. The theater, of course, was filled with a few children, but many more adults, many wearing their Shrek or Fiona ears, much to my amusement; the theater was certainly buzzing.

The crowd went wild with great fanfare for Shrek when he appeared in his green glory. The staging was noticeably different from what I remember, and a small orchestra somehow hidden behind a set was somewhat muffled. Before my companion pointed out the conductor’s shoulder, I thought it was a pre-recorded piece. I noticed during the last Jesus Christ Superstar engagement special tour in April that the sound quality of that show and this one was noticeably poor, especially for someone like me who goes to a lot of shows. Frankly, it annoyed me, but most of the audience didn’t seem to mind at all.

After further research, I discovered that early in the tour, creators Tesori and Abaire felt the series needed updating. They decided to make it new for new generations of theater lovers. This change was accompanied not only by a new direction, but also by a new mediocre set, new costumes, new choreography and even new writing. Several lines have been updated and several characters have been changed to make them more accessible and less “offensive”. It was a kinder, gentler and less funny version in my opinion. Several characters were also reshuffled or removed to fit the new staging and overall concept of the show. Shrek’s ogre parents, as well as young Shrek and Fiona who were previously played by actors, now use creepy puppets or ventriloquist heads with the ensemble members voicing them. It seemed too simplistic and stupid for my taste.

The biggest and hardest change to accept was Farquaad’s size. I understand the reasoning behind this change, and after the initial reaction, I didn’t mind the change. Christopher Sieber performed the show with great joy and great effect.

BUFFALO HERD EVALUATION SYSTEM

FIVE BUFFALOS: Exceptional quality – a rare note. Whether it’s a hilarious comedy or a touching drama, if this is your type of series, missing out would be a mistake!

FOUR BUFFALOS: The production and the play are of exceptional quality. If the genre and content match your preferences, it’s worth a look.

THREE BUFFLES: Despite minor drawbacks, this is a solid production and an enjoyable evening at the theater. Keep your expectations in check and you’ll probably have a good time.

TWO BUFFLES: If you are a self-proclaimed theater enthusiast and simply love going to shows, go ahead and give it a try. However, if the genre and themes aren’t for you, you may want to explore other options.

ONE BUFFALO: This may not be the best choice for everyone, unless you have a compelling reason to attend, such as having family or friends involved in the show. It’s probably a good idea to skip this one.