Chicago Tribune - Recommended
"...Eighteen months after the Broadway opening of a show that was shrill, insecure, overproduced and overly anxious to please, the second iteration of “Shrek the Musical,” which opened Sunday night at the Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago, has finally discovered a human scale. Or, to put it another way, “Shrek the Musical” has belatedly found more of a heart."
Chicago Sun Times - Highly Recommended
"...The top-drawer first national touring company of Broadway's "Shrek" arrived at the Cadillac Palace Theatre here Sunday night, and it's a surprisingly goofy, grand-scale delight. The hip zaniness and verbal agility of the show's book and lyrics come courtesy of playwright David Lindsay-Abaire (and the offbeat appeal of William Steig, the The New Yorker magazine's master cartoonist who penned the original children's book, Shrek!). Composer Jeanine Tesori's exuberant flair for musical pastiche is of the highest order. She can devise a classic tap routine for rats or palace guards; a torchy R&B number for a dragon; a perfect wake-up song for a bipolar princess; the ideal ballad for a heartsick ogre; the most winning backup beat for four tortured knights or three blind mice in pink gowns. And that's just for starters."
Windy City Times - Highly Recommended
"...The inside humor, however, is only the decoration on a sophisticated pop score delivered by the mighty-voiced, but always endearing, Eric Petersen, augmented by Haven Burton's rebellious Fiona, Alan Mingo, Jr.'s, resourceful Donkey and David F. M. Vaughn, wearing a cageful of prosthetics, as the—um, vertically challenged Farquaad. If the tap-dancing rats ( long drape, furry shoes—trust me, you'll love it ) and the surprise encore don't win you over, then you're grumpier than Farquaad's deadbeat dad."
Copley News Service - Highly Recommended
"... The physical production is superior, from Tim Hatley’s scene and costume designs (Hatley also designed the many witty puppets) through Hugh Vanstone’s lighting and Peter Hylenski’s sound design. All the color and spectacle are put to exemplary use by a large ensemble that thrives on Josh Prince’s high stepping choreography. Co-directors Jason Moore and Rob Ashford get the highest marks for sustaining the zest and buoyancy of this complex production."
Talkin Broadway - Somewhat Recommended
"...Director–Choreographer Rob Ashford is credited as co-director for the tour, along with Jason Moore, who had sole credit on Broadway. Josh Prince remains credited as choreographer. The team has given the piece a flashy, snappy Broadway pace and personality. Watching the production, you know you're seeing the work of some very solid Broadway professionals who know how to give the audience a good time. The kids and families experiencing this sort of magic (for maybe the first time) won't be comparing it to Spamalot and won't be disappointed. For the rest of us, Shrek the Musical can be a perfectly good fix of our theater cravings, but it's by no means a must-see."
Centerstage - Highly Recommended
"...Once upon a time there was a big, scary, green ogre, a beautiful princess with a deep, dark secret and a very friendly, wisecracking donkey. As luck would have it, they're in Chicago for the next eight weeks, and are we ever lucky to have them! This isn't exactly a carbon copy of the overproduced, star-studded mega musical that played Broadway in 2008, but in many ways it might even be better."
Chicago Stage Review - Recommended
"...Recycling a popular piece of work has become an oftentimes-disappointing cliché, but Shrek The Musical transcends the formula with outstanding original music, great production values, a terrific cast and good old-fashioned enchanting storytelling. This is not ground-breaking or awe-inspiring theater, but it is pleasantly polished and pleasing “fun-for-the-whole-family” escapist entertainment."
Time Out Chicago - Recommended
"...
Even if the authors don’t aim terribly high (and if Moore’s scaled-down tour staging can feel static), there’s enough to enjoy in this telling of the grumpy green giant’s journey of self-discovery, rescuing a flawed princess and teaching his fractured-fairy-tale mates that inner beauty is preferable to outer. Petersen does an admirable job of emoting through layers of latex, while Mingo has what ought to be a star-making sidekick turn as comic-relief Donkey. As the ten-year-old next to me said following curtain call, “That was the best Broadway show I’ve ever seen!” At his age, that’s perfectly acceptable."
ShowBizChicago - Somewhat Recommended
"...When the winning ensemble is relieved of its authors’ consciously-clever leadening, the denizens of Far, Far Away can pack a spirited punch. But it is ultimately the piece’s jumbled tone and fear of the imaginative risk that undercuts it. Contemporary culture jeers and balleterine rodents can be giddy fun, but only when they are allowed to supplement a cogent narrative identity. There wasn’t a single person in the audience on Sunday night who did not cheer for the green guy to win his piece of the of the proverbial swamp pie, or to believe in the bigness and brightness of the world for that matter. But it’s going to take a few more breadcrumbs, and just a bit more dollops of fairy dust, before we can take the leap with him."
ChicagoCritic - Somewhat Recommended
"...A mixed bag of a fine number, a tender moment is followed by a silly, even offensive scene with a screeching song diminished the show’s flow and appeal. We are suppose to like Shrek yet I found him not near as endearing as Donkey. Did I miss something? The show’s moral- that beauty doesn’t mean pretty - is beaten to death and the over-hyped ending left me thinking that the show is trying too hard to please. Shrek lover’s will cherish this show; Broadway musical lovers will either love it or hate it. You be the judge since I’m a minority on this one. Everyone around me loved the show’s energy – I found it lacked heart."
Chicago Stage and Screen - Highly Recommended
"...For once I am in complete agreement with the lyric that suggests classic fairy tales need to be given fresh and updated points of view. This Dreamworks Theatricals production actually bests its competitor Disney, whose "Beauty and the Beast" explored similar ideas that it is what is underneath the physical veneers that truly counts. But here, our green ogre never changes from the hideous beast back to a handsome prince. Rather it is the rest of the world whose minds have to change in order for the happily ever after ending we are promised can occur. And without tipping off any other "Shrek" newbies to the musical's outcome, there is a delightful parallel to the "Beauty and the Beast" transformation that is truly heartwarming."
Around The Town Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...The story is a simple one- Shrek, an ogre is brought to the swamp by his parents when he is six years old so he can start his own life, far away from those who might hurt him, because of what he looks like. Princess Fiona, at the same age is taken by her parents to a tower hide-away as a spell has been placed on her that will not be broken until she finds her true love and marries him. Through some special circumstances and situations, they do find each other and the rest is history. Just remembr, this is based on the animated film and does vary in story so if your family is expecting to see the cartoon they love on the stage, be prepared- they will not. What they will see is a glorious live production that will amaze you in every way. Pay close attention and you will see snippets from many musicals that are Dreamworks little way of spoofing the. When the cartoon characters decide to fight for their lives, you will see a little “les Miz” and when the rats are leaving with the pied piper, you might find yourself thinking “A Chorus Line”- yes you will enjoy watching for some of these hints which just makes the whole experience that much more fun!"
