Shrek The Musical Analysis

Shrek the Musical is a musical based on the DreamWorks 2001 film of the same name. The music was composed by Jeanine Tesori, while the book and lyrics were written by David Lindsay-Abaire. The Broadway production ran originally from December 2008 before closing in January of 2010 (Shrek the Musical). July of the same year it toured in North America starting in Chicago, and lasted two years. In addition, the musical premiered in the United Kingdom in June 2011 (Shrek the Musical). This Tony Award winning musical creates a tale about when fairy tales go wrong. Instead of a handsome prince rescuing his true love the princess, a scary ogre is sent by a king to rescue the princess using unorthodox methods in order to regain his land.
Shrek the Musical’s
What if the princess wasn’t cursed in the traditional means, and instead turned into a horrendous beast? What if the prince is not a prince, but a monstrous ogre? This musical answers these questions, and also answers the questions of what happens after “Happily ever after” for many of the population’s beloved fairy tales, like the Three Little Pigs and Pinocchio. Shrek, the ogre, gains a companion in the form of a talking donkey, and the two become the most unlikely of friends. However, this is not a simple love story or fairy tale. Despite the comedic jokes and light-hearted themes of the musical, there are darker undertones. Fiona and Shrek both reveal abuse from their childhoods, and the fairy tale creatures reveal the discrimination they faced when they are banished from their homeland because of their status. The central theme of this musical is not of love, but of acceptance of who we are. It celebrates multiculturalism and dismantles racial discrimination. According to Brater, "The freaks' heroic resistance to Farquaad's oppression provides the impetus for the musical's celebration of difference" is the most important aspect of the book (154). This is notoriously important given the year this was produced; the same year the United States received its first African American president. This central theme of acceptance and multiculturalism created unity not just at the end of the musical’s
The two concepts work together to create the perfect atmosphere, and even know when to break together for a dramatic pause. There are several breaks in music for emphasis within this musical. For example, during the song "Don't Let Me Go" Donkey singings "You Don't know what it's like to be a freak" which causes the music to break. The donkey looks at Shrek before the music resumes and he sings, "Maybe you do" (Moore). This song has a jazz beat to it in order to create an uplifting song about a budding friendship. The second pause in music happens again for Farquaad's introduction. His knights announce his arrival in an army salute beat, but the beat stops between each word in the sentences, "He is on his way. Here he is." The dramatic drumroll plays when he officially enters the stage. In addition, a dark Darth Vadar-esque tune plays when he reveals Gingy the Gingerbread Man and has been torturing him. This score reveals the sinister intentions of Farquaad and adds drama to the dark reveal of Gingy’s broken