'Shrek' Spreads the Love in National Tour

Based on the Dreamworks Animation motion picture and the book by William Steig; book and lyrics, David Lindsay-Abaire; music, Jeanine Tesori; scenic and costume design, Tim Hatley; lighting design, Hugh Vanstone; sound design, Peter Hylenski; hair/wig design, David Brian-Brown; make-up design, Naomi Donne; puppet design, Tim Hatley; music director, Andy Grobengieser; orchestrations, Danny Troob; choreography, Josh Prince; directed by Jason Moore and Rob Ashford

Cast in alphabetical order:

Peter Pan, Guard, Dragon Head, Joe Abraham; Princess Fiona, Haven Burton; Queen Lillian, Wicked Witch, Blind Mouse, Holly Ann Butler; Mama Ogre, Tweedledum, Dragon, Carrie Compere; Bricks, Guard, Dragon Puppeteer, Tyrone Davis, Jr.; Young Shrek, Dwarf, Hayley Feinstein; Sticks, Guard, Dragon Puppeteer, David Foley, Jr.; Mama Bear, Gingy, Aymee Garcia; Papa Ogre, Straw, Knight, Pied Piper, Bishop, Brian Gonzales; Papa Bear, Blind Mouse, Cara Kem; King Herold, Big Bad Wolf, Captain of the Guard, Knight, Sean McKnight; Donkey, Alan Mingo, Jr.; Flutterbell, Mara Newbery; Ugly Duckling, Teen Fiona, Sarah Peak; Shrek, Eric Petersen; Guard, Dragon Puppeteer, Keven Quillon; Shoemaker's Elf, Blind Mouse, Morgan Rose; Pinocchio, Knight, Blakely Slaybaugh; Young Fiona, Danielle Soibelman; Lord Farquaad, David F.M. Vaughn

Performances: Run at The Bushnell Center for the Arts in Hartford, CT ended February 20; next tour stop is Buffalo, NY February 22-27, Shea's Performing Arts Center, 716-847-1410

Tickets: Complete tour schedule and ticket information are available at http://www.shrekthemusical.com/tickets.html

The national touring company of the big, bright Broadway musical Shrek brought some much needed warmth to New England this past week when it cast its fairytale spell on the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts in Hartford, Connecticut. With an all-too-short one-week run that ended February 20, this fun-loving musical adaptation of the wildly popular DreamWorks film has a heart as big as the giant green ogre who lends his name to the fractured fable.

Librettist and lyricist David Lindsay-Abaire and composer Jeanine Tesori have captured all the contemporary humor and quirky charm of the original film while adding clever musical theater anachronisms of their own. Their tongue-in-cheek word play, along with inventive sight gags developed by co-directors Jason Moore and Rob Ashford, skewer everything from the Gingerbread Man ("Eat me," he says while being tortured) to Dreamgirls ("You're gonna love me," sings a fire-breathing dragon). A particularly funny sequence has the reclusive Shrek (Eric Petersen) and his continually braying self-appointed companion Donkey (Alan Mingo, Jr.) marching through the woods singing the "Travel Song." As they make their way to rescue the beautiful Princess Fiona (Haven Burton) from her tower, only to deliver her to the obnoxious little Lord Farquaad (David F.M. Vaughn) as his bride, a parade of shadow puppets appear in the woods behind them. All are from other stories or musicals, and their out-of-context presence is both surprising and delightful.

Many such touches give Shrek an extra spark of life, but it is an incredibly committed cast of very likable actors that gives this touring production its tremendous appeal. Petersen is a huge lovable lug as Shrek, a massive pile of marshmallow fluff whose comfortable life alone in the swamp is upended when he (reluctantly) finds himself falling for the princess. His rich baritone is as relaxed when teasing out the irony of his existence in "Big Bright Beautiful World" as it is booming when expressing his agony in "Build a Wall." In "When Words Fail," he is both heartbreaking and tender.

As Fiona, Burton is a luminous contradiction of pampered royalty and oddball optimist, a somewhat socially inept young woman who has taken to reading fairytales of other beleaguered princesses in order to while away her years of solitary confinement. She, along with her childhood and teen selves Danielle Soibelman and Sarah Peak, bring spunk and humor to their time-passing "I Know It's Today." Then Burton romps clumsily, wrecking comic havoc in her wake, during "Morning Person." In "I Think I Got You Beat," she and Petersen manage to turn belching and farting into an affectionate tween-style courtship.

Mingo's Donkey is hip and hyperactive without being an Eddie Murphy imitation. His "Forever" duet with the Dragon (a vocally thrilling Carrie Compere) is a highlight among his many musical sidekick numbers. Blakely Slaybaugh as Pinocchio, who leads a band of misfit fairytale creatures in revolt during "Freak Flag," is rubber limbed but quietly strong of will. A smarmy Vaughn as the petulant Lord Farquaad earns extra points for singing and dancing his big production numbers, "What's Up, Duloc?" and "The Ballad of Farquaad," on his knees.

Fine support is offered throughout, with each member of the ensemble having a moment to shine as one warped character or another. Of special note are Sean McKnight as a cross-dressing, misunderstood Big Bad Wolf, and Aymee Garcia who gets to chew the scenery as Mama Bear then be chewed upon as Gingy, an animated gingerbread cookie puppet. A chorus of tuneful tap-dancing rats in tuxedoes and top hats also earns big laughs.

While Broadway's original opulent design elements have likely been trimmed for the road, the visual impact of this touring Shrek is both playful and magical. Tim Hatley's larger-than-life sets, detailed costumes and fanciful puppets create a vivid storybook world filled with vibrant colors and rich textures. Hugh Vanstone's powerful lighting, David Brian-Brown's comical hair and wigs, Naomi Donne's character-driven make-up, and Peter Hylenski's evocative sound add to the overall effect beautifully.

While aimed primarily at the younger set, Shrek still offers much to entertain the adults in tow, as well. A very fine and talented cast delivers skewed humor along with a heaping helping of warmth and heart. Without resorting to saccharine or sermonizing, Shrek shines on Ogre-dose of light on acceptance and love - the kind that is blind to physical imperfections and embraces the "freak" in all of us.

Shrek continues on tour in Buffalo, New York February 22-27 at Shea's Performing Arts Center. Tickets and a complete tour schedule are available at http://www.shrekthemusical.com.

PHOTOS BY Joan Marcus: Eric Petersen (Shrek); Haven Burton (Fiona) and Ensemble; David F.M. Vaughn (Farquaad) and the Ensemble (Duloc Dancers); Blakely Slaybaugh (Pinocchio) and the fairy tale creatures of Duloc