Shrek dvd

Posted: 10/30/13 at 12:41pm

Shrek musical


Updated On: 10/31/13 at 12:41 PM

[jman16]

Posted: 10/31/13 at 2:56pm

This is the problem. People aren't prepared to pay for cast recordings or DVDs of productions and then moan when we don't get them. Buy it. Support the industry.

[DeNada]

Posted: 10/31/13 at 3:12pm

It's not actually out in the UK yet - not until December.

But THEN, as I have said a million times on a million forums, I will be able to own a glorious video of the original cast singing Who I'd Be, and then I will be in my own personal heaven.

(and hopefully it will wash away memories of Richard Blackwood in the London production)

Incidentally, anyone else following Fun Home, Jeanine Tesori's new show? If Nick Hytner's got another musical transfer in mind while he's still at the National I hope it's that - something for the Cottesloe when it reopens?

[AddisonMizner]

Posted: 10/31/13 at 4:23pm

Yes, I've read nothing but great things about FUN HOME! Unfortunately, I'm unable to cross the pond to see it for myself. I would love for it to transfer over here to somewhere like the National. That would be perfect! I'm at least hoping for a cast recording though.

I'm in two minds about SHREK. Part of me thinks that I should get the DVD to see what the show is like for myself, but it doesn't really appeal. It strikes me as too much of a children's show verging on pantomime, and it is not really my sense of humour. I don't really want to waste money on something I know I'm not going to like. I do like "Who I'd Be" though, and it seems like everyone thinks the Broadway production was infinitely superior to the one in London. Would everyone else recommend I give this a try anyway? The DVD would be cheaper than tickets to the tour!

[Musicalfan4]

Posted: 10/31/13 at 5:03pm

Shrek the musical is a good show!! I am definitely going to buy the dvd straight away!! I have e cast recording and love it!!!

[TBFL]

Posted: 11/1/13 at 11:27am

I've seen the dvd. It's not my favourite show, but it is great to see the original big broadway production. The sets are fantastic and the producers of the London production should be embarressed for the backdrops they used here. The cast are all great and Brian Darcy James sings the heck out of Who Id Be. People should definitely buy it, if only to show that there is a market for official, professionally filmed stage shows. Bootlegs have their place, but nothing compares to the quality of this dvd.

[AddisonMizner]

Posted: 3/30/14 at 7:17am

I finally got around to watching the SHREK: THE MUSICAL DVD yesterday and surprisingly I enjoyed it. (I thought that I would absolutely hate it!) Whether it won me over because it is performed with such energy and vitality by the Original Broadway Cast I don’t know. While the actors were clearly hamming it up and doing impersonations of their film counterparts (particularly Lord Farquaad and Donkey), I didn’t get the cheap Panto vibe that I was expecting after reading criticism of the London production. The tone was remarkably similar to that of the original film, and the book of the musical was faithful to the screenplay while having welcome additions (such as the back-stories of the different characters), and there were genuine moments of poignancy among the laughs. The whole story went at a very good pace and I was never bored when watching it, even though I could have done without all the toilet humour!

I enjoyed much of Jeanine Tesori’s score with its pop/rock/folk influences. Yes, there were some clunkers (I didn’t like “Donkey Pot Pie”, could have done without “What’s up, Duloc?” and “I Think I Got You Beat”, and felt that “The Ballad of Farquaad” fell flat), but these were easy to forgive when you had songs like the stunning “Who I’d Be” (easily the best song in the score), “When Words Fail”, “Build a Wall”, “Big, Bright, Beautiful World” and the catchy “Don’t Let Me Go”. The score was well structured, developing plot and character as it should.

I seem to be on something of a Jeanine Tesori kick at the moment. I have also just bought the Original Cast Recording of her new musical FUN HOME, which I am yet to listen to, but am looking forward to it as I have heard great things about it. I also can’t wait for PS Classics to release the new Broadway recording of VIOLET in June. Another score I can’t wait to listen to!


Updated On: 3/30/14 at 07:17 AM

[DeNada]

Posted: 3/30/14 at 9:20am

I've said it a million times but Who I'd Be is one of the best musical theatre songs of the past ten years (even with the irritating electric guitar in the orchestration at the end).

The show itself is still very panto (much as the film is, I guess) but on Broadway was blessed with a lavish production and actors at the top of their game. The slightly cut-price production we got at Drury Lane didn't help matters, but nor did the quality of the performances (particularly Richard Blackwood as Donkey - at least the other performers got rotated out, and Nigel Harman was very good).

FUN HOME is a wonderful score; I'm seeing VIOLET on Thursday and am very excited about that. You should also obviously check out CAROLINE, OR CHANGE (a 21st century masterpiece) and THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE when you get the chance.

[AddisonMizner]

Posted: 3/30/14 at 2:47pm

Today, I've been watching SHOW BUSINESS: THE ROAD TO BROADWAY which details the development of CAROLINE, OR CHANGE up to its Broadway opening. I don't know the musical, but it sounds very interesting! Unfortunately, the cast recording seems to be out of print now.

I will certainly have a look at THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 3/30/14 at 3:19pm

Caroline, or Change, sadly, is out of print but can be found in good condition used on Amazon for 20 dollars or so--and the digital version is still in print if you don't mind mp3s for around the same price. That's one problem with the fact that its cast album is on a major label and not a musical theatre specialty label, where surely it would still be in print simply because, I think, it's such an important score. It's hugely recommended by me--one of my favorite shows and scores of the past twenty years, though I associate that as much with Tony Kushner as Tesori (from interviews it seems to be Kushner's own favorite piece.) I admit, I may like Fun Home even more, however.

Tesori is an interesting talent. I feel like I'm starting to know her work as a whole now but, for a long time I really couldn't pin her down--her music just seemed so different from show to show, but now I'm starting to notice some through line.. I like *some* of Shrek, but have never warmed to it. I find Thoroughly Modern Millie a fun show, but out of Tesori's songs for it, the only two I really consider great--and they are pretty great--are Gimme Gimme and Forget About the Boy. She's also written a number of songs for Disney's direct to DVD sequels, but I don't think they're particularly interesting (Little Mermaid III, Mulan II, Emperor's New Groove umm II) but that may just be my distate for the direct to DVD sequels in general. But Violet, and especially Caroline and Fun Home have placed her right near the top of my current favorite working composers.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 3/30/14 at 3:26pm

Interestingly, for the Disney DVDs she DOES do her own lyrics--and they're not awful Here's I Remember from Little Mermaid III https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGLlwjQXNd4

[fan1]

Posted: 3/31/14 at 10:19pm

I do wish we had the London production of Shrek as an addition for the Forever song and the dragon. I also liked what they did with the opening and the giant book, though why they didn't have it at the end to close the show was always odd to me.