Stage Sounds: Shrek the Musical

Shrek is an absolutely iconic film still to this day, and I'll admit when I found out about the musical I had very little hope it would be any good. I've not seen an adult production of the show, but the high school production I saw a few years ago exceeded my expectations by quite a bit. I'll never claim it as a favorite, but it does have some good musical moments in it that are enjoyable.

Shrek the Musical is a musical with music by Jeanine Tesori and lyrics & book by David Lindsay-Adaire. Based on the 1990 William Steig children's book and 2001 DreamWorks film of the same name, the show opened in 2008 in Seattle before coming to the Broadway Theatre (located on Broadway proper) that same year, where it ran for 441 performances before closing in 2010. The show has also seen productions in Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, the UK as well as tours in Australia, the US, and the UK. The original Broadway run was nominated for eight Tony Awards in 2009, winning Best Costume Design, and was also nominated for Best Musical Show Album at the 2009 Grammy Awards. The film is, as stated before, culturally iconic, and its first sequel (though not the others) is just as good. I will say I wished there was a version of All Star here, but I guess that was asking too much.

For this post, I will be focusing on one song for each main cast member from the original Broadway cast recording, but will be skipping the Honorable Mentions portion because, as I mentioned earlier, a lot of this music just didn't stick with me. Warning: potential spoilers ahead.

Shrek (Tenor/Baritone)

Spotlight Song: I Think I Got You Beat

Film (2001): Mike Myers

Original Broadway (2008): Brian d'Arcy James

Shrek is not a character I ever pictured singing, but having had this franchise in my life since 4th Grade I do love him. Mike Myers, of course, knocked it out of the park, and I will say Brian d'Arcy James's excellent singing voice really added another layer (lol, iykyk) to this animated icon. Not many of Shrek's songs made a lasting impression on me, unfortunately. Act II's I Think I Got You Beat duet with Fiona, though, is honestly a banger. James and Foster sound great together, and the back and forth banter is a lot of fun.

I’ve heard better, I'm just saying, A for effort, thanks for playing/Sad to see a princess suffer, but I had it rougher/Like that time a mob with torches burned my britches, see the scorches/You're just whiney, I had a flaming hiney/As I fled, I had to wonder if I were torn asunder/Would an ogre go to Heaven, did I mention I was seven/So, I think I got you beat, I think I got you beat/Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah/I think I got you beat, I think I got you beat

Princess Fiona (Soprano/Mezzo-Soprano)

Spotlight Song: I Know It's Today

Film (2001): Cameron Diaz

Original Broadway (2008): Sutton Foster

Fiona is a bad ass, that's never been in question. Cameron Diaz brought her to life masterfully, and Broadway legend Sutton Foster did as good a job bringing her to the stage. I spent a lot of time listening to Fiona's songs a few years ago when a few of my students were auditioning for the role at the local high school, and she definitely has the cream of the crop in my opinion. Act I's I Know It's Today is my favorite song in the show and is a fun trio between Fiona herself at three different stages of life. I say fun, because it's catchy and fun to sing, but watching Fiona grow up alone in her tour is actually extremely sad.

There's a princess in a tower, oh, my gosh, that's just like me/Poor Rapunzel needs a haircut, but the witch won't set her free/She passes time by singing, like someone else I know/As years go by, she sits and waits, as years go by, uh-oh/A torturous existence, I don't remember this part/She wishes she were dead, skip ahead, skip ahead/But in the end, Rapunzel finds a millionaire/The prince is good at climbing and braiding golden hair/So I know he'll appear, 'cause there are rules and there are strictures/I believe the story books I read by candlelight/My white knight and his steed will look just like these pictures/It won't be long now, I guarantee/Day number 23/I know it's today, I know it's today

Donkey (Alto/Tenor/Baritone)

Spotlight Song: Don't Let Me Go

Film (2001): Eddie Murphy

Original Broadway (2008): Daniel Breaker

Donkey is more than a lovable sidekick, he is the moment. Eddie Murphy was in rare form in the films, and Daniel Breaker lends his energy and vocal talent to bringing him on stage. To no one's surprise, Donkey's songs tend to be quite wordy, which makes them both impressive and slightly obnoxious. Act I's Don't Let Me Go is his big solo in the show as he works to convince Shrek to let him come on his quest. It's not a bad song, but it's not catchy in my opinion, even though it has some nice vocal moments in it.

Just hear me out, I might surprise you/I’ll be a friend when others despise you/Don't roll your eyes, stop with the moping/You need a pal, my calendar's open/I’ll bring you soup when you feel congested/I’ll bail you out when you get arrested/I got your back, wha-wha-what, when things get scary/And I'll shave it when it gets hairy/Don't let me go/Don't let me go/Don't let me go/You need me/You need me

Lord Farquaad (Baritone)

Spotlight Song: What's Up, Duloc?

Film (2001): John Lithgow

Original Broadway (2008): Christopher Sieber

John Lithgow as Farquaad is, in a word, unmatched. That being said, Christopher Sieber does a good job bringing a different layer of unhinged to this now classic villain. He's just such a turd, and sadly his battle against anything he deems different feels very real in today's climate. Act I's What's Up, Duloc? is his big solo moment, and it does a good job setting up his character if you're somehow unfamiliar with the story at this point. The big unfortunate thing here, like with so many other songs in the show, is that it's hard to follow musically, which makes it difficult to catch on to or be memorable.

Once upon a time, this place was infested/Freaks on every corner, I had them all arrested/Hey, nonny-nonny-nonny-no/If you had a quirk, you didn't pass inspection/We all have our standards, but I will have perfection/And so, and so/Things are looking up here in Duloc/Just take a look/The things I'm cooking up here in Duloc/He likes to cook/A model that amazes, a plan with seven phases/Bum, bum, bum, bum, bum/Things are looking up here in Duloc

Pinocchio (Soprano/Mezzo-Soprano/Tenor)

Spotlight Song: Story of My Life

Film (2001): Cody Cameron

Original Broadway (2008): John Tartaglia

Pinocchio is a fun side character in the film, though I will say I prefer Gingy in terms of comedic timing. John Tartaglia gives a weird mix of Mickey and Spongebob vocally in this part, but I get what he was going for. It hurts my voice to think about doing that type of stuff, so props to him for doing it masterfully. Act I's Story of My Life sets up the big of exiling the fairy tale creatures to Shrek's swamp, so it's important, but for sure it's another one that feels kind of all over the place. It's a good ensemble piece, though, with some really nice harmonies mixed in there.

Life is disappointing/Woe is what I know/Outed by my nose, that's just how it goes/For poor Pinocchio/Story of my life, always doomed to fail/Cheated by a fox, swallowed by a whale/That's the story of my life, oh yeah/That's the story of my life

Dragon (Mezzo-Soprano/Alto)

Spotlight Song: Forever

Film (2001): Not a speaking part

Original Broadway (2008): Haven Burton, Aymee Garcia, & Rachel Stern

I love a strong, sentient, female dragon (I mean, Eragon is one of my all-time favorite books), so of course I love Dragon. She and Donkey's odd couple situation is cute, and seeing different ways she's been brought to life on stage is really interesting. In the high school production I saw, the actress had a truly incredible costume complete with headdress, but in the original show Dragon was a huge puppet who was voice by three different ensemble members. Act I's Forever is probably my second favorite song in the show after I Know It's Today. It's a great song for a mezzo or alto belter, it gives us that Donkey/Dragon dynamic, and it finally gives Dragon that voice she deserves.

Another day inside my keep/I get no rest, I get no sleep/‘Cause when I start to count my sheep/You come around/I draw my shades and lock my doors/Still you come for what ain’t yours/Like a hound dog on all fours/You sniff around and around and around/You’re gonna stay/You’re gonna stay/You’re gonna stay/Forever

I don't know about you, but I think I need to watch at least the first two Shreks now after this. Happy listening, and see ya'll next week!