Shrek: The Musical
Theatre for Young Audiences
Having been in the public domain for decades, fairy tales have long been subject to parody and subversion. I still remember howling with laughter over The Stinky Cheese Man and The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs when I was barely old enough to read them. Then, of course, there’s the creativity injected into stories like Wicked and Into The Woods, which explore the nuance of “evil” characters and suggest that life isn’t nearly as black and white as Grimm and Andersen -penned tales may indicate. But even though parody is nothing new, something about an uncouth, overweight green meanie named Shrek seemed to change the game. The DreamWorks landmark film is based on a book from 1991, and it spent years in development limbo before its 2001 release. At first, producers opted to cast an up-and-coming comedian named Chris Farley for the titular role. However, after Farley’s untimely passing, the role went to Mike Myers, who wasted no time in re-recording Shrek’s dialogue. He also added the trademark Scottish accent, forever cementing the ogre’s place in our hearts. The film’s success spawned several beloved sequels and spinoffs as well as a Broadway musical that opened in 2008.
Flash forward to the year-of-our-Lord 2026, when STAND Performing Arts Ministry (formerly KidStand) took their turn bringing the land of Duloc to life. They (wisely) selected a cast of goofy young adults as Duloc’s animated inhabitants, and the show wastes no time letting them stretch their comedic legs. As I took my seat, I was immediately greeted by three blind mice who were frantically searching for their friend who has gone missing. Of course, anyone who has seen the film knows that their pal, Gingerbread Man (or Gingy, portrayed wonderfully by Bettina Chio acting as puppeteer and thespian), has been abducted by Lord Farquaad in pursuit of a damsel to make him a proper king. My concern for Gingy’s wellbeing aside, I was delighted to see the action begin before the curtain even went up. I was also inexplicably hit with a craving for cookies…
STAND’s producers were wise to lean into Shrek’s long list of characters rather than pare them down to a more manageable number. The sheer amount of players in this tale necessitates plenty of unoccupied real estate to see them flourish, which provides charm of STAND’s production. Their minimalist set design consisted of several movable props, a few pieces of furniture, and a green backdrop to remind the audience of its primary color scheme. This practicality forces the characters to build the world of Duloc through their quirky interactions rather than physical set pieces, and it works to Shrek’s advantage.
Speaking of characters, there wasn’t a dull one in the cast. My favorite scene has always been the initial confrontation between Shrek and a legion of fairy tale icons over where exactly they’re meant to live, now that they’ve been exiled from the Farquaad-controlled Duloc. This stage production nailed that moment by allowing half a dozen short stories to play out between the supporting characters in the background of the main action. There’s something delightfully infectious about seeing talented people do goofy things, and this show has it in ample supply.
I hesitate to single out any one actor, as the show’s strength is in its collective ensemble interactions, but I would be remiss to not call out the lead performances. The journey taken by Shrek, Donkey, and Fiona is effective and engaging, and it comes with a score of beautifully sung melodies. Brought to life by the enigmatic Lizzy Hook, Fiona exudes feminine strength wrapped around a ball of insecurity, and her interaction with Shrek comes off as natural and hilarious. Likewise, the titular ogre’s banter with Donkey has the mismatched pair trading a cacophony of one-liners and sarcastic retorts that left the audience rolling. It was obvious how much fun Micah Perkins (Shrek) and Evan Koehler (Donkey) had perfecting these scenes. Then of course, there’s our villain. Perpetually compensating for his short stature, Lord Farquaad perfectly rounds out the main cast. Eric Hilsinger shines as the miniature dictator, exuding insecurity and unearned entitlement despite standing just over 3 feet tall. The energy brought to the character’s portrayal provided the perfect foil for our Scottish anti-hero, and it’s all the more impressive that Hilsinger spends most of the show on his knees to portray Farquaad’s physicality. Likewise, Perkins’ commitment to Shrek’s iconic Scottish accent earns big points.
Shrek enjoyed a limited run from January 29 – February 1. Be sure to check out The STAND’s upcoming performance of the beloved Nunsense, running from February 20 – March 1. Tickets can be purchased at standministries.org/tickets
Best Laugh-Out-Loud Moment: “Not my gumdrop buttons!” If you know, you know.
I'll see you at the next curtain,
Kyle Lester
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