THEATRE REVIEW

APRIL 2026 | Volume 262

 

Shrek, the animated movie, is a lot of fun: a goofy fairy-tale for the young’uns with enough clever asides to keep grown-ups occupied and laughing. Shrek, the live musical, not so much. It lacks the comic economy of the film, and its music and songs add little to the colourful characters. The extravagant RCMT production, directed by Chris Adams with 25 performers and a 14-piece orchestra, feels like a massive children’s entertainment but offers only occasional satisfactions for us older kids.

Played by Tanner Zerr, Shrek is a big green teddy bear of an ogre, and his over-eager companion Donkey (Chris Francisque) charms with his frantic loyalty and friendship. Madison Simms’ spunky Princess Fiona has an excellent voice and is very worth saving from the clutches of absurdly comical Lord Farquaad (Kamyar Pazandeh, who never disappoints) with his tiny, floppy legs. The belching and farting contest between Shrek and Fiona pretty much defines the show’s target audience. The Chinese New Year-style Dragon (voiced by Alexis Hope) is not likely to scare even the littlest audience member.

Caitlyn Baird provides the wonderful costumes and Juno Millan-Brulé the make-up and prosthetics. The show certainly looks great.

But for grown-up lovers of musical theatre, where’s the beef? Jeanine Tesori’s music is underwhelming. In the absence of big dance number schoreographer Tracey Power has little to do, even with a large chorus of fairy tale characters. Rick Colhoun’s sound was troublesome on opening night, with mikes cutting in and out, making it hard to catch David Lindsay-Abaire’s sometimes clever adult lyrics. And Zerr, an otherwise fine Shrek, lacks the singing voice that can reinforce the character’s inherent sweetness in contrast to his grumpy demeanor and grotesque appearance.

Don’t expect West Side Story or Les Mis. But by all means, bring the kids.

 

 

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