Review: (Vancouver) Shrek

Catch the Fun
by Jay Catterson

The 2014 season of Theatre Under the Stars went off with a rousing start last Tuesday with the opening of Shrek: The Musical, based on the hit DreamWorks Animation film and storybook by William Steig. This show has changed a bit since its Broadway bow, but even with all the post-Broadway tinkering done to David Lindsay-Abaire's book and lyrics and Jeanine Tesori's music, the clunky parts of the show still remain; however, the majority of the show does work, and it is done justice by the TUTS cast, directed by Sarah Rodgers. 

Review: (Toronto) Shrek

Passable Shrek Misses the Point
Visually splendid show pitches firmly to kids, selling its assets woefully short
by Christian Baines
@XtianBaines

Shrek is one of those movie-turned-musical concepts that really makes sense. A big, brash, funny and self-aware take on traditional fairy tales, balanced by just the right sense of lyrical whimsy. But does a musical treatment do anything to enhance the story of Shrek?