Shrek the Musical (Jr.)

Shrek the Musical (Jr.)
Based on the DreamWorks Animation motion picture, and the book by William Steig. Book and Lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire. Music by Jeanine Tesori. Adelaide Youth Theatre. The Hopgood Theatre, Noarlunga. October 6/7, 2017.

The most loveable green ogre that any of us are likely to encounter, Shrek began life on bookshelves, followed by no fewer than four big-screen showcases, brought to life by the inimitable vocal talents of Mike Myers. Could any stage musical version of this story – let alone a junior edition that runs only an hour – possibly have anything fresh and engaging to offer? In the hands of the dependable team at Adelaide Youth Theatre: absolutely!

The self-aware humour that is a Shrek trademark may actually work even better on the stage, when it is delivered in wittily rhyming song lyrics; the music, meanwhile, has been pre-recorded but the young ensemble mesh well with it, delivering very nice harmonies into the bargain. A tap-dance interlude is a delightful, spectacular surprise, complete with top hats and tails – and ears! Make-up work, particularly on the ogre characters, is effective and impressive – though it is noticeable that Shrek’s helmet does not really provide an adequate disguise during one crucial scene.

Jack Conroy does well as the title character, and Zali Sedgman’s portrayal of Princess Fiona has an edge that is charming in the style of Carol Burnett. Izzy Oppedisano was a hit with the audience – and deservedly so – in the one-and-only role of Donkey; though line deliveries were occasionally a challenge to comprehend, this performer more than made it up for it with energy, attitude, and timing. A standout among the smaller roles was Taylor Tran as the spectacularly-costumed Dragon; she gave the creature as powerful a presence as it should have. Henry Tran’s last-minute appearance as the Dwarf is an absolute gem.

Director Thomas Phillips has kept the show light and bright, with clever and colourful design work to enjoy throughout. There would be no better way to sum up this production than with a direct quote from the row in front of this reviewer, prompted by Shrek’s wedding serenade during the conclusion: “That’s so sweet!”

Anthony Vawser

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