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A Shrek-tacular romp for the whole family

SINGAPORE — Once upon a time, a charming tale of a hefty green ogre finding love with a feisty princess burst onto the silver screen, winning the hearts of millions and clinching the first-ever Oscar for Best Animated Feature.

SINGAPORE — Once upon a time, a charming tale of a hefty green ogre finding love with a feisty princess burst onto the silver screen, winning the hearts of millions and clinching the first-ever Oscar for Best Animated Feature.

Shrek, the 2001 DreamWorks movie starring Mike Myers as the titular curmudgeon beast, went on to spawn three sequels and a stage musical, which is currently on its first international tour. The live adaptation, which made its Broadway debut in 2008, runs until Sunday at Marina Bay Sands.

Translated onto the stage, the well-loved story maintains much of its appeal — which is amplified even further thanks to extremely strong performances from the international cast, not to mention the slew of infectious numbers that make the show an absolute pleasure to take in from the get-go.

Let’s be clear. This is no high-brow theatre, but it most certainly is colourful and thoroughly entertaining for adults and children alike.

Plot-wise, the musical thankfully sticks very closely to its movie counterpart. Fans of the film will lap up inclusions of non-crucial but infinitely memorable scenes from the film.

Throw in a talking donkey and a motley crew of fairytale misfits including Pinocchio, Peter Pan, The Three Little Pigs and a Granny’s nightgown-clad Big Bad Wolf (who, in one of the more risque and politically-incorrect moments geared towards the grown-ups, laments being called “a hot n’ tranny mess” during the song Story Of My Life), and, well, there you have it.

There is also more backstory provided to give the audience better insights into the childhoods of Shrek, played by American actor Kyle Timson, and Princess Fiona, portrayed with impressive moxie by Lindsay Dunn, who absolutely smashes the role with her spot-on comedic timing and powerhouse voice.

We learn that both characters were sent away by their parents as children: Shrek with a warning that because of his looks, life will not be kind to him, and Fiona to await her prince charming locked away in a tower guarded by a fire-breathing dragon.

Strangely, Fiona’s tendency to turn into an ogre at nightfall — the consequence of a curse placed on her in her younger years — is somewhat glossed over.

As far as production value goes, Shrek The Musical serves up some clever tricks that keep the audience engaged and make for some great ‘Oh, cool!’ moments.

Take, for example, the introduction of Dragon, which takes place when Shrek and Donkey arrive at the tower to rescue Princess Fiona on behalf of the story’s villain, the diminutive Lord Farquaad, who wishes to marry the princess in order to become king. The use of projected graphics as a backdrop is an innovative way to simulate movement with limited props and stage sets.

The huge purple dragon puppet is also masterfully manipulated by its handlers on stage, making for a real visual treat whenever the coquettish character appears.

For all the show’s plus points, the real show-stopper was American actor Christian Marriner, who plays the antagonist Lord Farquaad.

Expertly channelling John Lithgow, who voiced the character in the movies, Marriner’s portrayal was on point throughout the show. His deadpan delivery of one-liners had the audience roaring with laughter.

That said, the role of the pint-sized, hammy baddie requires Marriner to move about on his knees, including during several song-and-dance sequences, and watching him do so as Farquaad’s puppet legs (strapped to his upper legs) flail about is a little jarring. Still, one has got to give the man credit for stamina.

Overall, Shrek The Musical is solid, if a little too long, especially for younger audiences. But, hey, when getting swept up in the make-believe is so much fun, that’s a minor quibble. VICTORIA BARKER

Shrek The Musical is showing until Sunday at the MasterCard Theatres at Marina Bay Sands. Tickets from S$65 are available at http://www.marinabaysands.com/ticketing or through Sistic.

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