“A tale as old as grime” is a clever and apt subtitle for the twisted fairy tale that is Shrek the Musical, a crowd-pleaser for theatergoers of any age.
McLean Community Players (MCP) has brought this hilarious and tuneful show to life with energy, heart, and talent that leaps off the stage. If the audience’s reactions were any indication — nearly wall-to-wall cheers and laughter — Shrek the Musical should be a summertime hit for MCP, and deservedly so. And this is not an ogre-exaggeration.
Just in case you need a refresher, Shrek the Musical is based on William Steig’s delightful children’s book that was adapted into an animated film franchise by DreamWorks Animation, beginning in 2001. The stage adaptation, by David Lindsay-Abaire and Jeanine Tesori, expands on the first Shrek film’s plot. It premiered in 2008 and has become popular on stages across the globe.
The story centers on the ogre, Shrek, who lives out his life on a patch of swampland outside the limits of Duloc, an atypical fairy tale village. Instead of a noble lord, Duloc is ruled over by the diminutive and egomaniacal Lord Farquaad. When Farquaad banishes all the more unique citizens of Duloc — think Pinocchio, the Good Fairy, the Three Bears — to the swamp, Shrek takes to the village to confront the short king-lord and ends up being tricked into going on a quest to find a princess trapped in a lonely tower. Along his journey, Shrek finds a sassy, talking donkey and has to get past an amorous dragon before rescuing Fiona from the tower. Shrek’s big green heart starts to melt as he falls for the strong-willed and perky princess, while being third-wheeled by Donkey. After many adventures, Shrek delivers Fiona to Farquaad for the forced marriage, and it’s up to the ogre to save the day and Fiona from a doomed marriage. A happy ending for everyone, except Farquaad, wraps up with the ’60s pop hit “I’m a Believer” as a rousing grand finale.
MCP’s production takes a fun musical and elevates this hilarious and touching show onto a whole other level. Spearheaded by director Jared Glou, the energy level of the entire cast never wavered during the two and a half hour run time. Perhaps you think this is an obvious statement, but the pacing, the transitions, and every scene crackled with electricity and verve, propelling the show throughout the evening.
Glou and his collaborators Ariel Kraje, choreographer, and Rachel Bradley, music director, put together what can easily be called a stacked cast of stellar performers from the leading players to even the smallest ensemble member.
Noah Beye, in the title role, had charm, comedic timing, a soaring voice, and stage presence to spare. The actor’s portrayal of Shrek paid homage to vocal actor Mike Myers (the 2001 animated star) and Bryan d’Arcy James (the original Broadway star), incorporating a strong Scottish accent, but brought his own distinctive stamp to the character. Beye nailed the comic shenanigans, for sure, but he was also able to convey the ogre’s loneliness and desire for happiness. Shrek’s sensitivity was especially highlighted in the solo numbers “When Words Fail” and “Build a Wall.”
Special mention must go out to makeup designer Natalie Turkevich for Shrek’s head-to-toe greenification. Wicked’s Elphaba is not the only green icon, and the masterful design and execution of Beye’s ogre is a sight to behold.
As his secretive and lively love interest, Princess Fiona, Alexandra Lagos, was well-matched to Beye’s Shrek bit-by-bit and note-for-note. Lagos found Fiona’s spunky spirit and whirlwind quirkiness from start to finish. Add her dancing skills — highlighted in the toe-tapping “Morning Person” — and crystal-clear belting voice, and she commanded the stage. All things being equal, Beye and Lagos brought the house down with their deliriously funny duet “I Think I Got You Beat,” complete with their burping and farting contest!
Supporting the ogre and the princess with skillful comedic timing and equally vivid personalities were Cam Powell and Garrett Walsh as Donkey and Farquaad, respectively. Covered from head to toe in brown fur, Powell brought brays of laughter from the audience as the goofily endearing donkey. When Donkey notices the budding romance between Shrek and Fiona, Powell’s Motown-inspired “Make a Move,” backed up by the Three Blind Mice (Shannon Hardy, Isabella Lerch, and Max Newman), was a highlight. As the antagonistic nobleman, Walsh chewed scenery like bubble gum, which was a perfect fit for the fussy and farcical Farquaad. As is traditional with the role, Walsh sang, danced, and yukked it up all while performing 98 percent of the time on his knees (with clever costuming) to portray the dwarfish cad. God bless his knees! Farquaad is in the grand tradition of comedic villains providing obstacles for the main characters with room to charm the audience with evil glee, and Walsh was born to play the role.
Duloc was also populated with a variety of wild and crazy creatures and figures from all sorts of stories; MCP’s ensemble provided memorable performances of fairy tale characters, each one having little moments to shine with a line or a bit of business. Kevin Donlan was a squeaky-voiced Pinocchio, complete with identity crisis. Shelby Young pulled double duty as the fabulous Good Fairy and the voice (and puppeteer) for the Gingerbread Man, a.k.a. “Gingy.” All the other fairy tale figures join Pinocchio and Gingy for the rousing anthem of acceptance, “Freak Flag,” a certified showstopper.
Featured in the introductory song for Fiona, “I Know It’s Today,” Cece Gorini and Ellie Whitfield, as the child and teen princess, joined Lagos as the grown-up Fiona for a stunning trio. (These roles alternate with Samantha Regan and Madlyn Regan throughout the run.) And, even with one musical number at her disposal, Ariel Friendly blew the roof off the Alden Theatre when she proved that the Dragon was also a dynamic diva, singing “Forever.” This number also served as the hook to getting Donkey’s heart, the most unlikely couple in Duloc.
The entire cast was aided by Kraje’s engaging choreography and Bradley’s crisp musical direction, leading the ten-piece pit orchestra with precision. Ginger Ager’s kaleidoscopic and whimsical costumes helped bring the make-believe world to life. Working with designers Olivia Hinebaugh, sets, and Sam Jensen, lighting, Shrek’s director Glau was able to place the characters into the far-away land and maintain quick and smooth transitions.
MCP deserves this production to be a sell-out, so do not hesitate to order your tickets and take anyone from 8 to 80 to the show. Be warned: there is some potty humor (remember the fart contest?), which might need some smoothing over for the more uptight audience member. But the message of acceptance is not only timeless but timely. As Shrek says to Fiona in the last moments, “Beautiful ain’t always pretty.” As updated fairy tales go, you can’t go wrong with the story of the big, green ogre who saved the day and got the girl.
Running Time: Two hours and 30 minutes with a 15-minute intermission.
Shrek the Musical plays through July 27, 2025, presented by McLean Community Players performing in the Alden Theatre at the McLean Community Theatre, 1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean, VA. Tickets ($25/$20 students and seniors, $18 MCC district residents) can be purchased online.
Warnings: Slapstick humor and violence, mild scary moments, and juvenile potty humor.
Shrek the Musical
Book and Lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire
Music by Jeanine Tesori (“I’m A Believer” by Neil Diamond)
The cast and creative credits for Shrek the Musical are online here.
