Shrek, the animated film star voiced by Michael Myers, admted that he is gay an terview wh People Magaze on this week's newstands.
Contents:
- "SHREK" A FAY MIL WH GAY-PRI ELEMENT
- SHREK COM OUT BUT INSISTS THAT HE IS BI, NOT JT GAY
- BLOGGG BROADWAY: GO SEE "SHREK THE MIL" AND LET YOUR FREAK FLAG FLY!{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}NEWSBY MICHAEL PORTANTIEREDECEMBER 15, 2008/10:03 AMBY MICHAEL PORTANTIEREDECEMBER 15, 2008 / 10:03 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"BLOGGG BROADWAY: GO SEE \"SHREK THE MIL\" AND LET YOUR FREAK FLAG FLY!","DATEPUBLISHED":"2008-12-15T15:03:30.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2008-12-15T15:03:30.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"MICHAEL PORTANTIERE","KEYWORDS":"THE BACKLOT","ARTICLESECTN":"NEWS"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BRIAN D'ARCY JAM, DANIEL BREAKER, AND SUTTON FOSTER SHREK (PHOTO: JOAN MARC){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IF YOU'RE A GAY PARENT OR UNCLE AND YOU WANT TO TAKE A NEW (OR NEWISH) BROADWAY SHOW THAT WILL ENTERTA THE KIDS WHOUT BORG YOU TO TEARS, YOUR OPTNS ARE LIMED. DISNEY'S THE LTLE MERMAID AND MARY POPPS ARE HUGE DISAPPOTMENTS, AND THE RECENTLY OPENED WHE CHRISTMAS IS, AS A IEND OF ME WOULD SAY, OM {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT THERE'S GOOD NEWS! DPE SOME MOR FLAWS, SHREK THE MIL IS A LIGHT. BASED PRIMARILY ON THE FIRST THE SERI OF THREE ANIMATED FILMS THAT PROVED TO BE BLOCKBTERS FOR DREAMWORKS, THIS STAGE VERSN — WH BOOK AND LYRICS BY DAVID LDSAY-ABAIRE, AND MIC BY JEANE TORI — IS SO HILAR AND WARM-HEARTED THAT 'S PRETTY MUCH GUARANTED TO PLEASE DIENCE MEMBERS OM 8 TO 80, AND OFFERS GAY DIENC PLENTY TO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}READ ON FOR A FULL REPORT!{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}JT SE YOU MISSED THE FLICK(S), SHREK IS ABOUT A BIG, UGLY, GREEN OGRE (PLAYED ON BROADWAY BY BRIAN D'ARCY JAM) WHO'S RIGNED TO LIVG ALONE A SWAMP — THAT IS, UNTIL HIS TERRORY IS BET BY A GAGGLE OF FAIRY-TALE CREATUR, LED BY POCCH (JOHN TARTAGLIA), WHO'VE BEEN BANISHED OM THE KGDOM OF THE EVIL LORD FARQUAD (CHRISTOPHER SIEBER). OUR HERO NONTS FARQUAD AND EARNS HIS PROMISE THAT THE SUATN WILL BE TAKEN RE OF IF SHREK N RETRIEVE THE LOVELY PRCS FNA (SUTTON FOSTER) OM HER TOWER AND LIVER HER TO FARQUAD FOR MARAL PURPOS. WH HELP OM THE JIVE-TALKG DONKEY (DANIEL BREAKER) WHO BE HIS UNLIKELY PAL, SHREK PLET HIS TASK — BUT THE RULT IS FAR OM WHAT HE OR ANYONE ELSE VOLVED EVER {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THOUGH THERE IS NO OVERT HOMOSEXUALY SHREK (NATCH), THIS IS ONE OF THE GAYT SHOWS ON BROADWAY. THAT'S PARTLY BEE THREE OF THE SHOW'S MAJOR PLAYERS — DIRECTOR JASON MOORE AND -STARS SIEBER AND TARTAGLIA — ARE SO OPENLY AND PROUDLY GAY THAT THEY RECENTLY GAVE A HILAR TERVIEW ABOUT THE SHOW TO THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THEN TOO, OVER AND ABOVE CHARACTERS LIKE BREAKER'S SASSY DONKEY, SIEBER'S PRISSY FARQUAD, AND A CROSS-DRSG WOLF OM THE RED RIDG-HOOD TALE, THE WHOLE ENTERPRISE HAS A TREMENDOLY GAY SENSIBILY. AND S CHIEF MORAL, THAT WE SHOULD ACCEPT OURSELV AND EXPECT OTHER PEOPLE TO ACCEPT FOR WHAT WE ARE, CERTALY APPLI TO GAY PEOPLE LIVG A WORLD THAT STILL FORC MANY OF TO THE CLOSET. (ONE OF THE SHOW'S HIGHLIGHT WHEN POCCH, WHO HAS KEPT SISTG HE'S A REAL LIVE BOY, FALLY BLURTS OUT "I'M WOOD! I'M GOOD! GET ED TO !"){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}CHRISTOPHER SIEBER AND PANY SHREK (PHOTO: JOAN MARC){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WH FABULO SCENIC AND STUME SIGN BY TIM HATLEY AND LIGHTG SIGN BY HUGH VANSTONE, NOT TO MENTN GREAT WIGS AND MAKP AND SOME REALLY OL SPECIAL EFFECTS, SHREK IS CERTALY EYE-POPPG. BUT ALSO HAS A LOT GOG ON BENEATH THE SURFACE. THOUGH TORI'S TUN ARE NOT IMMEDIATELY MEMORABLE ON FIRST HEARG, THEY'RE THOROUGHLY ENJOYABLE AND ACCSIBLE. AMONG THE SRE'S HIGHLIGHTS ARE THE BALLADS "I KNOW IT'S TODAY," "WHO I'LL BE," AND "WHEN WORDS FAIL," WHILE THE JOYO, UP-TEMPO "FREAK FLAG" MAY WELL BEE A NEW ANTHEM FOR GAYS AND OTHERS WHO WANT TO CELEBRATE THEIR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LDSAY-ABAIRE'S LYRICS ARE FAR MORE ACPLISHED THAN ONE WOULD EXPECT OM A FIRST-TIME LYRICIST, AND HIS BOOK IS A SKILLFUL ADAPTATN OF THE SOURCE MATERIAL. (THAT'S NOT A HUGE SURPRISE; LDSAY-ABAIRE IS THE THOR OF SEVERAL WONRFULLY WHIMSIL PLAYS ADDN TO THE BRILLIANT, DARKER, PULZER PRIZE-WNG RABB HOLE.) BE FOREWARNED: THERE ARE LOTS OF FART JOK N SHREK. BUT THEY'RE REALLY, REALLY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ALL OF THE LEADG ACTORS ARE TERRIFIC. JAM SOMEHOW MANAG TO MAKE SHREK UGLY AND ADORABLE AT THE SAME TIME, WHICH IS EXACTLY THE POT. BREAKER ADMIRABLY OFFERS A DONKEY WHO'S MUCH DIFFERENT THAN EDDIE MURPHY'S CHARACTER THE MOVIE BUT IS EVERY B AS THROW-DOWN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}FOSTER, WHO HAS PREVLY STARRED ON BROADWAY THOROUGHLY MORN MILLIE, LTLE WOMEN, THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, AND YOUNG FRANKENSTE, HAS NEVER BEEN BETTER THAN SHE IS AS THE EE-SPIRED FNA. SIEBER SERV A TONY AWARD NOMATN FOR HIS HILARLY OVER-THE-TOP FARQUAD, PERFORMED ENTIRELY ON HIS KNE! AND THOUGH TARTAGLIA HAS VERY LTLE STAGE TIME AS POCCH, HE MAK THE MOST OF {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SHREK DO HAVE S FLAWS AND DISAPPOTMENTS. JOSH PRCE'S CHOREOGRAPHY IS NO BETTER OR WORSE THAN AQUATE, AND THE HUGE DRAGON PUPPET THAT PLAYS A PIVOTAL ROLE THE SHOW DON'T MAKE THE PROPER EFFECT. (APPARENTLY, THIS DRAGON PROVED TO BE A BEAR ALL THOUGH THE SHOW'S OUT-OF-TOWN TRYOUT AND BROADWAY PREVIEWS.) ALSO, MANY OF THE SONGS THE SHOW END WHOUT CLEAR MIL AND LIGHTG "BUTTONS," WHICH HAS THE UNFORTUNATE RULT OF ANG THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE WEIRST FLAW THE SHOW AT THE VERY END — AND I DO MEAN THE VERY END. A BIG CHALLENGE CRAFTG A STAGE MIL VERSN OF SHREK WAS THE FACT THAT THE MOVIE WORKED A NUMBER OF PRE-EXISTG POP SONGS TO THE PLOT, AND THIS WAS DONE SO WELL THAT BROADWAY DIENC MIGHT HAVE BEEN EXPECTED TO MISS THOSE MOMENTS. TORI AND LDSAY-ABAIRE HAVE HANDILY SISTEPPED THE PROBLEM BY PROVIDG ORIGAL SONGS THAT FUNCTN EVEN BETTER NTEXT. BUT WHAT DO WE HEAR PLAYED AS THE SHOW'S EX MIC, AFTER TWO AND HALF HOURS OR ORIGAL MATERIAL? THE OLD MONKE H "I'M A BELIEVER," WHICH (I'M TOLD) WAS HEARD OVER THE CLOSG CREDS OF THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IT'S DIFFICULT TO IMAGE HOW ANYONE, OR ANY GROUP OF PEOPLE, ULD HAVE MA SUCH A CISN. APPARENTLY, "I'M A BELIEVER" WENT TO THE PRODUCTN AT THE VERY LAST MUTE, AND I N ONLY HOPE THAT WILL SOON BE TAKEN OUT. SHREK AND S SRE ARE TOO GOOD TO LEAVE THE DIENCE WH EVEN THE SLIGHTT, LAST-MUTE IMPRSN THAT THIS SHOW IS ANY WAY K TO A JEBOX {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
"SHREK" A FAY MIL WH GAY-PRI ELEMENT
Shrek feels that his plexi are overshadowed by the one attribute that people n see, and not only do that p him agast other people, but also agast himself, a ncept faiar wh anyone who grew up wh ternalized homophobia. Obvly geared for children, the show will not bore their adult chaperon the least thanks to large dos of the irreverent, often stologil humor that also fed the film and a gay-pri subtext that is exemplified by havg the supportg st of fairy tale characters harmonizg about lettg their “Freak Flag” wave. Shrek, the animated film star voiced by Michael Myers, admted that he is gay an terview wh People Magaze on this week's lumnists had been suggtg Shrek had a limp wrist sce last summer when paparazzi photographer Peter Parker ught him olickg the surf wh Mr.
At the time his publicist sisted that Shrek was merely attendg a fay event of the Incredibl, and the other members of the fay were actually visible or unrwater when the photos was this week's terview, Shrek reveals that the fay was not there, and Parker (who is also an animated character and who doubl as Spirman) was part of the sisted that he is not merely gay, however, and that he enjoys the pany of women as well.
SHREK COM OUT BUT INSISTS THAT HE IS BI, NOT JT GAY
A 9 year old:"Did you know that Shrek is a homosexual wals?! Brian d'Arcy Jam, Daniel Breaker, and Sutton Foster Shrek (Photo: Joan Marc)If you're a gay parent or uncle and you want to take a new (or newish) Broadway show that will enterta the kids whout borg you to tears, your optns are limed. Based primarily on the first the seri of three animated films that proved to be blockbters for Dreamworks, this stage versn — wh book and lyrics by David Ldsay-Abaire, and mic by Jeane Tori — is so hilar and warm-hearted that 's pretty much guaranted to please dience members om 8 to 80, and offers gay dienc plenty to on for a full report!
BLOGGG BROADWAY: GO SEE "SHREK THE MIL" AND LET YOUR FREAK FLAG FLY!{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}NEWSBY MICHAEL PORTANTIEREDECEMBER 15, 2008/10:03 AMBY MICHAEL PORTANTIEREDECEMBER 15, 2008 / 10:03 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"BLOGGG BROADWAY: GO SEE \"SHREK THE MIL\" AND LET YOUR FREAK FLAG FLY!","DATEPUBLISHED":"2008-12-15T15:03:30.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2008-12-15T15:03:30.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"MICHAEL PORTANTIERE","KEYWORDS":"THE BACKLOT","ARTICLESECTN":"NEWS"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BRIAN D'ARCY JAM, DANIEL BREAKER, AND SUTTON FOSTER SHREK (PHOTO: JOAN MARC){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IF YOU'RE A GAY PARENT OR UNCLE AND YOU WANT TO TAKE A NEW (OR NEWISH) BROADWAY SHOW THAT WILL ENTERTA THE KIDS WHOUT BORG YOU TO TEARS, YOUR OPTNS ARE LIMED. DISNEY'S THE LTLE MERMAID AND MARY POPPS ARE HUGE DISAPPOTMENTS, AND THE RECENTLY OPENED WHE CHRISTMAS IS, AS A IEND OF ME WOULD SAY, OM {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT THERE'S GOOD NEWS! DPE SOME MOR FLAWS, SHREK THE MIL IS A LIGHT. BASED PRIMARILY ON THE FIRST THE SERI OF THREE ANIMATED FILMS THAT PROVED TO BE BLOCKBTERS FOR DREAMWORKS, THIS STAGE VERSN — WH BOOK AND LYRICS BY DAVID LDSAY-ABAIRE, AND MIC BY JEANE TORI — IS SO HILAR AND WARM-HEARTED THAT 'S PRETTY MUCH GUARANTED TO PLEASE DIENCE MEMBERS OM 8 TO 80, AND OFFERS GAY DIENC PLENTY TO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}READ ON FOR A FULL REPORT!{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}JT SE YOU MISSED THE FLICK(S), SHREK IS ABOUT A BIG, UGLY, GREEN OGRE (PLAYED ON BROADWAY BY BRIAN D'ARCY JAM) WHO'S RIGNED TO LIVG ALONE A SWAMP — THAT IS, UNTIL HIS TERRORY IS BET BY A GAGGLE OF FAIRY-TALE CREATUR, LED BY POCCH (JOHN TARTAGLIA), WHO'VE BEEN BANISHED OM THE KGDOM OF THE EVIL LORD FARQUAD (CHRISTOPHER SIEBER). OUR HERO NONTS FARQUAD AND EARNS HIS PROMISE THAT THE SUATN WILL BE TAKEN RE OF IF SHREK N RETRIEVE THE LOVELY PRCS FNA (SUTTON FOSTER) OM HER TOWER AND LIVER HER TO FARQUAD FOR MARAL PURPOS. WH HELP OM THE JIVE-TALKG DONKEY (DANIEL BREAKER) WHO BE HIS UNLIKELY PAL, SHREK PLET HIS TASK — BUT THE RULT IS FAR OM WHAT HE OR ANYONE ELSE VOLVED EVER {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THOUGH THERE IS NO OVERT HOMOSEXUALY SHREK (NATCH), THIS IS ONE OF THE GAYT SHOWS ON BROADWAY. THAT'S PARTLY BEE THREE OF THE SHOW'S MAJOR PLAYERS — DIRECTOR JASON MOORE AND -STARS SIEBER AND TARTAGLIA — ARE SO OPENLY AND PROUDLY GAY THAT THEY RECENTLY GAVE A HILAR TERVIEW ABOUT THE SHOW TO THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THEN TOO, OVER AND ABOVE CHARACTERS LIKE BREAKER'S SASSY DONKEY, SIEBER'S PRISSY FARQUAD, AND A CROSS-DRSG WOLF OM THE RED RIDG-HOOD TALE, THE WHOLE ENTERPRISE HAS A TREMENDOLY GAY SENSIBILY. AND S CHIEF MORAL, THAT WE SHOULD ACCEPT OURSELV AND EXPECT OTHER PEOPLE TO ACCEPT FOR WHAT WE ARE, CERTALY APPLI TO GAY PEOPLE LIVG A WORLD THAT STILL FORC MANY OF TO THE CLOSET. (ONE OF THE SHOW'S HIGHLIGHT WHEN POCCH, WHO HAS KEPT SISTG HE'S A REAL LIVE BOY, FALLY BLURTS OUT "I'M WOOD! I'M GOOD! GET ED TO !"){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}CHRISTOPHER SIEBER AND PANY SHREK (PHOTO: JOAN MARC){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WH FABULO SCENIC AND STUME SIGN BY TIM HATLEY AND LIGHTG SIGN BY HUGH VANSTONE, NOT TO MENTN GREAT WIGS AND MAKP AND SOME REALLY OL SPECIAL EFFECTS, SHREK IS CERTALY EYE-POPPG. BUT ALSO HAS A LOT GOG ON BENEATH THE SURFACE. THOUGH TORI'S TUN ARE NOT IMMEDIATELY MEMORABLE ON FIRST HEARG, THEY'RE THOROUGHLY ENJOYABLE AND ACCSIBLE. AMONG THE SRE'S HIGHLIGHTS ARE THE BALLADS "I KNOW IT'S TODAY," "WHO I'LL BE," AND "WHEN WORDS FAIL," WHILE THE JOYO, UP-TEMPO "FREAK FLAG" MAY WELL BEE A NEW ANTHEM FOR GAYS AND OTHERS WHO WANT TO CELEBRATE THEIR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LDSAY-ABAIRE'S LYRICS ARE FAR MORE ACPLISHED THAN ONE WOULD EXPECT OM A FIRST-TIME LYRICIST, AND HIS BOOK IS A SKILLFUL ADAPTATN OF THE SOURCE MATERIAL. (THAT'S NOT A HUGE SURPRISE; LDSAY-ABAIRE IS THE THOR OF SEVERAL WONRFULLY WHIMSIL PLAYS ADDN TO THE BRILLIANT, DARKER, PULZER PRIZE-WNG RABB HOLE.) BE FOREWARNED: THERE ARE LOTS OF FART JOK N SHREK. BUT THEY'RE REALLY, REALLY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ALL OF THE LEADG ACTORS ARE TERRIFIC. JAM SOMEHOW MANAG TO MAKE SHREK UGLY AND ADORABLE AT THE SAME TIME, WHICH IS EXACTLY THE POT. BREAKER ADMIRABLY OFFERS A DONKEY WHO'S MUCH DIFFERENT THAN EDDIE MURPHY'S CHARACTER THE MOVIE BUT IS EVERY B AS THROW-DOWN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}FOSTER, WHO HAS PREVLY STARRED ON BROADWAY THOROUGHLY MORN MILLIE, LTLE WOMEN, THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, AND YOUNG FRANKENSTE, HAS NEVER BEEN BETTER THAN SHE IS AS THE EE-SPIRED FNA. SIEBER SERV A TONY AWARD NOMATN FOR HIS HILARLY OVER-THE-TOP FARQUAD, PERFORMED ENTIRELY ON HIS KNE! AND THOUGH TARTAGLIA HAS VERY LTLE STAGE TIME AS POCCH, HE MAK THE MOST OF {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SHREK DO HAVE S FLAWS AND DISAPPOTMENTS. JOSH PRCE'S CHOREOGRAPHY IS NO BETTER OR WORSE THAN AQUATE, AND THE HUGE DRAGON PUPPET THAT PLAYS A PIVOTAL ROLE THE SHOW DON'T MAKE THE PROPER EFFECT. (APPARENTLY, THIS DRAGON PROVED TO BE A BEAR ALL THOUGH THE SHOW'S OUT-OF-TOWN TRYOUT AND BROADWAY PREVIEWS.) ALSO, MANY OF THE SONGS THE SHOW END WHOUT CLEAR MIL AND LIGHTG "BUTTONS," WHICH HAS THE UNFORTUNATE RULT OF ANG THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE WEIRST FLAW THE SHOW AT THE VERY END — AND I DO MEAN THE VERY END. A BIG CHALLENGE CRAFTG A STAGE MIL VERSN OF SHREK WAS THE FACT THAT THE MOVIE WORKED A NUMBER OF PRE-EXISTG POP SONGS TO THE PLOT, AND THIS WAS DONE SO WELL THAT BROADWAY DIENC MIGHT HAVE BEEN EXPECTED TO MISS THOSE MOMENTS. TORI AND LDSAY-ABAIRE HAVE HANDILY SISTEPPED THE PROBLEM BY PROVIDG ORIGAL SONGS THAT FUNCTN EVEN BETTER NTEXT. BUT WHAT DO WE HEAR PLAYED AS THE SHOW'S EX MIC, AFTER TWO AND HALF HOURS OR ORIGAL MATERIAL? THE OLD MONKE H "I'M A BELIEVER," WHICH (I'M TOLD) WAS HEARD OVER THE CLOSG CREDS OF THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IT'S DIFFICULT TO IMAGE HOW ANYONE, OR ANY GROUP OF PEOPLE, ULD HAVE MA SUCH A CISN. APPARENTLY, "I'M A BELIEVER" WENT TO THE PRODUCTN AT THE VERY LAST MUTE, AND I N ONLY HOPE THAT WILL SOON BE TAKEN OUT. SHREK AND S SRE ARE TOO GOOD TO LEAVE THE DIENCE WH EVEN THE SLIGHTT, LAST-MUTE IMPRSN THAT THIS SHOW IS ANY WAY K TO A JEBOX {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
Wh help om the jive-talkg Donkey (Daniel Breaker) who be his unlikely pal, Shrek plet his task — but the rult is far om what he or anyone else volved ever there is no overt homosexualy Shrek (natch), this is one of the gayt shows on Broadway. That's partly bee three of the show's major players — director Jason Moore and -stars Sieber and Tartaglia — are so openly and proudly gay that they recently gave a hilar terview about the show to The too, over and above characters like Breaker's sassy Donkey, Sieber's prissy Farquad, and a cross-drsg wolf om the Red Ridg-Hood tale, the whole enterprise has a tremendoly gay sensibily.
And s chief moral, that we should accept ourselv and expect other people to accept for what we are, certaly appli to gay people livg a world that still forc many of to the closet.