SHREK referencing LES MIS?

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Posted: 4/4/13 at 9:35am

During the song "Freak Flag" in SHREK, a big green flag is waved in the background. Does anyone think that the picture on this flag is strikingly similar to the famous picture of Young Cosette in LES MIS?

[Musicaldudepeter]

Posted: 4/4/13 at 9:37am

The whole show is littered with Broadway musical references. Listen to 'Story of My Life' - it references A Chorus Line and Gypsy amongst others

[rorschach37]

Posted: 4/4/13 at 10:42am

They reference several shows. A Chrous Line, Gypsy, Les Miserables, The Lion King, Wicked, Rent, Dreamgirls (in the currently licensed version), etc.

[Patash]

Posted: 4/4/13 at 11:55am

Are you serious? How could anyone NOT KNOW that is a direct reference to Les Mis?

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 4/4/13 at 12:30pm

The OP doesn't seem to be the sharpest tool in the shed.

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Posted: 4/4/13 at 4:05pm

In my defense, I have not seen the show since very early in its tour run back in 2011, and I don't remember much of it. If you asked me what part referenced what show, I would look at you with a blank stare.

[broadway guy]

Posted: 4/4/13 at 4:20pm

Your profile picture is a cat...

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Posted: 4/4/13 at 6:00pm

^

LOL

[Wishing Only Wounds]

Posted: 4/4/13 at 9:05pm

When did they add the graphic to the flag? I don't recall seeing it on Broadway or in Chicago. Also, what's the new 'Dreamgirls' reference?

[IronMan]

Posted: 4/4/13 at 9:24pm

No, it's a coincidence, as is the cast marching in place in wedge formation. I can't believe you would think of such a thing!

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 4/5/13 at 2:18am

"Your profile picture is a cat..."

Yes, you are very observant! It is a cat. A grumpy cat, to be exact. I'm glad you could recognize what it was!

But what my avatar has to do with anything is beyond me.

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 4/5/13 at 3:30am

As is the whole, you know, waving the flag.

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 4/5/13 at 1:59pm

On Broadway, from what I recall - they simply just waved the big flag to reference it, but it seems like on the tour they made the change to be an even more obvious Les Mis reference with the imprint of Pinocchio.

[Starship]

Posted: 4/5/13 at 2:27pm

@Wishing Only Wounds & @ClumsyDude15 - The flag with Pinocchio's face on it was added during the 1st national tour to further reference Les Miz (they had already referenced it with the formation choreography in "Freak Flag") . They also scraped "Donkey Pot Pie" and replaced it with "Forever," which is a parody of "And I Am Telling You" from Dreamgirls (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzugqUcoZ9U).

For those wondering, here's all the references in the show:

THE LION KING: During Shrek and Donkey see a giraffe and gazelles which look like the gazelle wheel in The Lion King (an excerpt from "Circle of Life" plays during this part of the song).

WHAT'S UP, DULOC?: At the end of the number, Lord Farquaad references Defying Gravity from Wicked, when he sings, "..and no ones gonna bring me down!" followed by the famous ending note. Also, the oft-repeated line 'Hey-nonny-nonny-nonny-no' is taken from the song "Shy" from Once Upon a Mattress.

FOREVER: At the end of "Forever", the Dragon's final line is a reference to the Dreamgirls song "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going".

STORY OF MY LIFE: During the song Mama Bear sings "Mama's in the mud, Mama's in distress," which is a nod to the song "Rose's Turn" from the musical Gypsy. The song has hints of A Chorus Line in it as well.

FREAK FLAG: During "Freak Flag" a flag is waved around with Pinocchio's face on it, which resembles the famous logo of young Cosette from Les Misérables.

DON'T LET ME GO: During a part of "Don't Let Me Go" on the national tour, Donkey sings to the music of "Take Me or Leave Me" and "I'll Cover You" from Rent.

-----------------

I really wish the Broadway production had never happened since it was such a train wreck. However, the London production was truly stunning and I think it would've done better if THAT production was the one that opened on Broadway. A lot of the 1st national tour cast was really great too, especially Carrie Compere & Haven Burton.

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 4/5/13 at 3:03pm

Thank you all the info, Starship.

As someone who saw the show on Broadway several times, I loved it, but I haven't seen what the London production looked like, but I don't doubt the changes made to the show worked out best in the long run.

Edit: "Forever" is fierce, and much better than "Donkey Pot Pie".

Updated On: 4/5/13 at 03:03 PM

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Posted: 4/5/13 at 3:04pm

Thanks for all the info Starship - I had no idea there were that many references. My friend told about the flag resembling Les Mis and I thought it was interesting. I was clueless about the rest.

[Starship]

Posted: 4/5/13 at 3:21pm

@ClumsyDude15 Definitely! I wish I could've seen the Broadway cast. It had a powerhouse cast (Sutton Foster, Brian D'Arcy James, Haven Burton, Kecia Lewis Evans, John Tartaglia, etc.), but, the design elements (in my opinion) flopped and a majority of the songs needed some fine tuning. To me, the show looked sloppy. However, the London production just looks so much sharper and the orchestrations have been much much much improved. Even the logo and was better and the casting choices (etc. ensemble tracks) were much tighter.

@TheGingerBreadMan No probleeeem!




Updated On: 4/5/13 at 03:21 PM