Shrek the Musical [DVD]

Music Magpie are great, I have used them many times to buy good quality, pre-owned discs

You could be forgiven for thinking that there would be little (if any) point to adapting such a well-known and loved film for the stage - but you'd be wrong. When this show opened, one review described it as an adaptation with 'real heart', and that's very true. This show gives back story to Shrek, Fiona, and Farquaad which enhances our understanding of those characters and their actions. The performances of Brian D'arcy James as Shrek, Christopher Sieber as Lord Farquaad, and Sutton Foster as Princess Fiona are outstanding - wonderful singing voices, but all three are excellent comedy actors. The show keeps a few choice lines and gags from the film, but really is its own entity. Certain things you can't imagine being recreated on stage are done cleverly - Fiona's transformations, the shortness of Farquaad - and in Farquaad's case tongue-in-cheek hilariously! Catchy songs, and a show the whole family can enjoy. The weak links for me are Donkey (the character who gets the least development from the film, and who's character here is just a bit TOO camp- more so than Daniel Sieber makes him sound on the CD) and Dragon (the puppet looks a bit ropey to me, and it didn't work for me actually SEEING the (3?!) vocalists on the stage). I understand they invested in a better Dragon puppet after the show ended it's initial Broadway run and went to having one off-stage vocalist, both of which I imagine worked better. But a belter of a show for me overall, and I'd highly recommend it!

I've seen a lot of musicals, both on stage in several countries and on video, and can say with all honestly that this is without doubt the best of any of them.The camera work, the sound, the production, the editing, and not forgetting the performances themselves are all outstanding. There's none of those often awkward random shots of the audience, until the very end, allowing you to become completely lost in the show for the entire two hour run.If you've seen the Broadway version of this show then you know what to expect as that is what was filmed over several live performances with an audience, and a special one without to allow cameras to more more freely about the theatre. Not a single moment of the lavish production is missed, with a delightful mixture of wide shots, and close ups.However if you saw the badly miss-cast, cut down - they removed "Build a Wall": Why? - UK version of the show then you are in for an even bigger treat as Brian D'Arcy James, Sutton Foster, Christopher Sieber and the rest of the cast not only bring their roles to live, as fully form characters without having to resort to cheep laughs, with voices that have the incredible power and yet can still be touching.The only possible down side I could find to this disc would be the slightly rough (too loud vocals) sound during the encore "I'm a Believer" which whilst not that bad, did come as something of a surprise after the wonderful full pounding stereo of the rest of the show were you can actually tell where the actors are on stage just from where their voice is coming from.So, in case you haven't guessed already, I just couldn't recommend this any higher.

Thank you girl lover mover

A fun-filled souvenir of the lavish 2008 Broadway production. The plot is as in the first film. Ogre Shrek seeks the deeds of his swamp so fairytale refugees cannot squat. Diminutive Lord Farquaad insists he first brings to him Princess Fiona so they may marry. Ahead lies a quest full of danger. Will Shrek succeed?SPOILER ALERT! Of course he will.Too extravagant for its own good? (This production never recouped the money it spent.) Versions since have been less ambitious and some would claim better. Perhaps certain aspects here worked better on the stage than disc. Scenes involving the fairystory characters often became cluttered, it not clear who some of them were meant to be. That dragon particularly needed a rethink.Nevertheless there is much to enjoy - the show inventively presented, with four hilarious central performances. Occasionally gross? You bet! Children are likely to shriek with glee everytime Shrek's chatty donkey companion indicates yet again the giant has broken wind.Arguably the best sections involve characters rather than spectacle. Working perfectly is that overheard misunderstanding (very moving too). Favourite sequence? For me it was the opening to Act 2, spirited Princess Fiona trillingly greeting the new morn, a nearby nesting bird reacting most unexpectedly.Perhaps best regarded as a glorious antidote to traditional pantomimes - characters all splendidly over the top, the humour robust.An important message too: do not judge by appearances.

Watched the west end show of this. This is the american version but very similar. Good to watch. very good quality sound other than last song.

Fantastic show for anyone. Even if you aren't a musical fan. HIGHLY recommend

I'd not seen this musical before and although I did watch it all the way through I wasn't especially keen. I can imagine it would go down well with children though as it's a bright and upbeat musical in terms of staging/props.