Broadway Critics Size Up Giant Ogre: Shrek Reviews
Dreamworks brought their hit animated film Shrek to Broadway, and last night Shrek The Musical celebrated its opening night. Today, the Broadway critics have begun to weigh in with their opinions on the production. With an estimated cost of over $20 million to produce, Dreamworks has spared no expense in its first Broadway production. Reviews from the Broadway critics were mixed-to-positive, most critics praised the performances and production values. However, several critics were less than enthusiastic about the shows ability to capture the magic of the film, and felt the music was not memorable. With a jumble of scatological humor and high ideals, Shrek The Musical offers something for all ages, and Dreamworks’ entry to Broadway could well challenge the Disney monopoly on Broadway family entertainment. The reviews were mixed, but most critics agree that this show could be a huge success. Excerpts from reviews below:
• But “Shrek” does not avoid the watery fate that commonly befalls good cartoons that are dragged into the third dimension. What seems blithe and fluid on screen becomes lumbering when it takes on the weight of solid human flesh.
-Ben Brantley, New York Times
• The book manages well enough, though the reliance on uncharming bodily and vocal functions is rather too heavy, even if it impresses up to age 12.
-John Simon, Bloomberg
• The movie had a blast poking fun at icons from Disney classics. That witty business is still here, which works, plus frequent winks at Broadway shows, which doesn’t.
-Joe Dziemianowicz, New York Daily News
• Obviously geared for children, the show will not bore their adult chaperones in the least thanks to large doses of the irreverent, often scatological humor that also infused the film and a gay-pride subtext that is exemplified by having the supporting cast of fairy tale characters harmonizing about letting their “Freak Flag” wave.
-Frank Scheck, Reuters
• All these assets do not add up to a great musical: That, by definition, would require great music. But Shrek is pretty grand entertainment, and to these eyes, it looks like a big, fat hit.
-Elysa Gardner, USA Today
• Thanks to exceptional design and two great performances, the sweet-and-salty balance mostly works, delivering plenty of harmless fun.
-Mark Blankenship, Star-Ledger
• For much of the time, they succeed, thanks to the talent and ingratiating appeal of the show’s four principal performers, starting with Brian d’Arcy James as that disagreeable, smelly green ogre who lives in a swamp.
-Michael Kuchwara, AP
• The show’s biggest problem is that it is full of too many additional lumbering segments, many of which are made worse by the creators’ assumptions that metamusicalizing the show with twee references to a number of recent and not-so-recent song-and-dance entries, Woody Allen film, and Valley of the Dolls, would amount to innumerable new delights.
-David Finkle, Theatermania
• Especially in the fairy-tale creatures’ “Freak Flag” anthem, the show pumps up the teen-friendly agenda of outsider acceptance and advocates finding beauty in even the most unconventional-looking folks.
-David Rooney, Variety
• Both adults and kids can appreciate the film “Shrek,” but only the latter will be entertained by the musical. Though the film was animated, it was far more human.
-Matt Windman, am New York
