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Shrek is set to be a monster hit in the West End
Tom Teodorczuk in New York15 Dec 2008
SHREK The Musical celebrated a grand opening on Broadway last night and the titular green ogre is set to stampede in to the West End.
Shrek, based on the 2001 animated blockbuster film that has spawned two sequels, opened at the Broadway Theater. A green carpet, instead of the traditional red, attracted the likes of Cameron Diaz, Ben Stiller and Ugly Betty's America Ferrera.
Diaz lent her voice to the films as Princess Fiona, who falls for the swamp-dwelling ogre. Asked by the Standard if West End theatregoers would get to see Shrek, Jeffrey Katzenberg, chief executive of Dreamworks Animation SKG, which produced both the musical and films, said: "We would hope so. Besides Broadway, it's the most exciting theatre place to be, isn't it?
"For Shrek to open on Broadway and then have a run in the West End is what we are hoping for."
The musical, whose budget has been estimated at $25million (£16.6million), is directed by Jason Moore, who also directed the West End cult musical Avenue Q. The score is by Jeanine Tesori, who composed Caroline Or Change - the 2006 Evening Standard Theatre Award winner for best musical.
But the show's roots lie in a suggestion from Oscar-winning British director Sam Mendes to Katzenberg that Shrek would work on stage. Shrek is a co-production between DreamWorks - its first musical - and Mendes's Neal Street Productions. Speaking at Shrek's aftershow party in Manhattan's Plaza Hotel, Mendes told the Standard: "It's just a great story. I felt there is a place on Broadway, and hopefully the West End, for a kids' show that was anarchic rather than serious. The Lion King is magnificent, but it is quite serious. Shrek is irreverent and pure fun. It's a good night out and offers a great way for kids to be introduced to the theatre."
Ben Stiller told the Standard: "It's wonderful. I really enjoyed it." Diaz said the show was "hilarious".
Shrek also proved a hit with children. Billy Elliot star Haydn Gwynne attended the opening with her 11-year-old son Orlando. He told the Standard: "Before I saw it I thought Shrek wouldn't be that good as a musical, but it was fantastic. It had a lot of humour and it had a very funny take on other things." His mother said: "I think it would work in the West End."
But the US critics gave Shrek a mixed response. Bloomberg's John Simon wrote: "The great fairytales transcend all barriers; this one stumbles over some basic hurdles."
However Elysa Gardner of USA Today observed: "Shrek is pretty grand entertainment, and to these eyes, it looks like a big, fat hit."
Reader views (1)
I'm haydn 8 year old son harry and it was great. p.s not the 11 year old
- Harry Phipps, london,england, 18/12/2008 23:46
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