Anyone with kids familiar with the cantankerous ogre Shrek from the Dreamwork's Academy Award-winning animated film will have a blast at "Shrek the Musical" which is at the State Theatre in Easton at 7 p.m. through Thursday.
The familiarity of seeing the beloved characters come to life on stage is part of the fun of the musical which is based on the 2001 movie.
The moment Pennsylvania native Lukas Poost, clad in the ogre's trademark green skin and beige tunic, steps out of a giant storybook onto the stage, the audience roars with approval.
Poost gives us a cranky but ultimately good Shrek and, although his characterization is based on Mike Meyers' portrayal from the movie, he gives it his own spin with a little less of Myer's Irish brogue.
Liz Shivener is a treat as Princess Fiona with a personality that fills the stage and a voice to go along with it. The scene in which Fiona is joined by a teen and child version of herself played by Schuyler Midgett and Nadia Jewel as they sing the yearning "I Know it's Today" is a standout.
As Donkey, Andre Jordan channels Eddie Murphy's character with hilarious results.
The scenes which pair Jordan as the wise-cracking Donkey and Poost as an exasperated Shrek are rapid-fire and very funny.
But the show is really about spectacle and even with the set pared down for the tour, the visuals deliver.
The dragon puppet is spectacular and even "flies" around the stage its green eyes flashing. The character features a new song "Forever" and a powerhouse of a voice in Kelly Teal Goyette.
The scenes in Dulac are aptly recreated from the film with armor-clad soldiers and puppet-like dancers. As the height-impaired Lord Farquaad, Merritt David Janes, makes dancing on his knees look easy.
Parents should be aware there are a lot of fart jokes and a whole song "I Think I Got You Beat" ends with a farting and belching competition between Shrek and Fiona.
There also are a lot of quite funny in jokes about the theater. Look for references to "Lion King" 'Les Miserables" "A Chorus Line" and even "West Side Story."
Many of the iconic scenes including exact dialogue from the movie are recreated on stage.
Many scenes are note-worthy including Fiona's humorous take on typical "princess and forest animal scenes" in "Morning Person," which ends with an extremely clever dancing line of rats that transform into top-hat wearing dancers.
The 15 actors who embody the fairy tale characters from Pinocchio to the three pigs were all great and quick change artists to boot. Their "Freak Flag" song was one of the highlights of the show's second act.
A 9-piece orchestra adds a lush feel to the music and by the final song "I'm a Believer" – the only one from the film – the entire audience was on its feet and ready to dance along.
"Shrek the Musical," 7 p.m. Feb. 22-23; State Theatre, 453 Northampton St., Easton; $55, $60. Info: 610-252-3132 or http://blogshots.org/www.statetheatre.org.
610-778-2235
