Scenes from Shrek The Musical.
The much-loved story of the adventures of green ogre Shrek and Princess Fiona is set to come to Bangkok next month in Shrek The Musical, a live adaptation of the Oscar-winning film Shrek which won the Best Animated Feature in 2002.
Based on the movie Shrek which was released more than a decade ago, Shrek The Musical follows the adventures of the ogre who sets out on a mission to rescue feisty Princess Fiona after his swamp is filled with magical creatures by the evil Lord Farquaad.
Kyle Timson who plays Shrek and Lindsay Dunn who plays Princess Fiona said during a recent visit in Bangkok to promote the show that they are excited to bring the story to life for a new generation of Shrek fans.
The musical is the first major role for recent graduates 22-year-old Timson and 23-year-old Dunn who were children themselves when the first Shrek movie came out in 2001.
“It was definitely one of my favourite movies as a child,” said Dunn. “A routine of mine would be to stay in my room on Saturday morning and watch Shrek on my little TV. It was always one of my favourite cartoons.”
Neither of the leading stars had travelled much before landing the roles — now they have been to many places, including Turkey and the Middle East.
“The comedy is so universal — a lot of it is physical comedy — who doesn’t laugh at a fart or a burp?” says Dunn.
Scenes from Shrek The Musical.
“Customs watching theatre differ depending on where you are,” added Timson. “We’ve experienced more vocal audiences, less vocal — that’s just a customs thing and what they are used to doing while watching a show or a movie… even a child who doesn’t speak English can watch Shrek The Musical and he knows exactly what’s happening.”
Dunn and Timson both have different favourite scenes in the musical.
Dunn’s is at the end of Act One, when Shrek and Donkey have finished rescuing Princess Fiona and she falls asleep.
While sleeping, Shrek tells Donkey all the things he would like to be but during this song Fiona comes out and they see her for the first time as an ogre.
“If you haven’t seen the movie you have no idea that she turns into an ogre,” said Dunn. “This beautiful trio share their longings for life, what they aspire to be and wish they could change about themselves. It’s a touching beautiful scene.” Timson’s favourite scene is when Fiona and Shrek sing a song called I Think I Got You Beat — talking competitively about their childhoods.
“Shrek was shunned by his parents and forced to live in a swamp and Fiona had to stay 23 years in this tower with no contact with the outside world. They fight — and it happens in real life too, you fight but realise that there’s a moment when you start having a weird chemistry — they stop and start flirting with each other,” he said.
“Then, of course, Shrek farts right there in the middle of the song. He’s super embarrassed and nervous… and then Fiona farts even louder than Shrek and it spawns this burping, farting battle on stage.”
Both are looking forward to performing in Bangkok next month and are certain the show can be enjoyed by adults and children alike.
Shrek The Musical will be staged from July 1-5 at Muangthai Rachadalai Theatre. Visit www.thaiticketmajor.com for details.
Lindsay Dunn and Kyle Timson.
This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.