
I stepped to the other side of the street on passing the theatre where '13' was playing, thank you!
I left on Tuesday, the night my friends saw 'Billy Elliott' but they have since returned and tell me it was a great production even if a little watered down and 'Broadwayized'. The general buzz over there in the 'real' theatre world is pretty exciting. They all see it as the shot in the arm that Broadway needs at the moment, very little negative stories. Everyone I spoke to who had already seen it simply loved it!
'Shrek', i absolutely loved despite its flaws and it does have flaws but all forgivable ones. The show is in perfect shape to open and the audience loved it.
The opening number is brilliantly funny and cleverly staged as it introduces us to both the young and old Fiona and Shrek plus an hilarious introduction to the fairy tale characters.
The sets are gorgeous and special effects very impressive.
The cast look like they are having a great time with some wonderful set pieces (farting songs etc!).
The flaws lay mainly in the flow of the story in act 2 but i don't think it's lost on the audience too much. The much hyped dragon lives up to its name and more. It is a huge head that fills half of the stage with the girls of the chorus as its body with large scale like back pieces. Its with the dragon that I saw the biggest flaw, when it sings it doest have a single voice as its parts are all sung by the chorus and it just doest look right its a bit of a let down. Its got a pair of eyes to melt any hard faced ogre!
The make up and transformations of literally 30 or 40 cast members is simply astonishing. There will be a Tony award there I'm sure!
Having seen 'The Little Mermaid' again 2 days before seeing 'Shrek' i think Disney could now learn a lot especially in how to put a show over that doesn't feel like a theme park show. 'Shrek' has a heart to it that 'The Little Mermaid' 'Tarzan' and 'Poppins' just doesn't have.
I'll say now that the NY critics will be divided over the show.
I hope it makes it to London as planned as i think it will appeal to a far wider audience than the Disney shows have in London.
(i had trying to write up on shows, hope this is OK)
Updated On: 11/22/08 at 07:01 PM