Shrek the Musical has been running at Shea’s Smith Theatre in Buffalo from Jan. 15 to Jan. 25. Led by O’Connell & Company, the musical follows an ogre named Shrek who finds himself on a life-changing journey alongside a clever donkey and a feisty princess. I’m a longtime Shrek lover and was honestly hesitant to watch the show, believing that nothing could top the original animated movie.
To my surprise, I wholeheartedly enjoyed the performance and was amazed by the comedic timing, demeanor and stage presence of each actor onstage. Upon entering the venue, I was unaware of the small, intimate setting, as I expected a large theater with many seats. However, the production taking place in such a close setting ultimately shaped my experience and fully immersed me in the world of Shrek.
The most impressive part of this performance was the ability to deliver jokes in such a way where not a single joke fell flat. Every wisecracking comment Donkey made left the crowd guffawing and eager for more jokes. Jack Hayes did an amazing job playing the role of Donkey, and it truly did resemble Eddie Murphy in terms of personality and facial expressions. The ability of Jack Hayes to perfectly mimic the behavior of an animated character speaks to the talent of the performers of O’Connell & Company.
A specific part of this musical that caught me completely off guard was the introduction of Lord Farquaad. Prior to his appearance, Farquaad’s guards performed a song that seemed to amp up the crowd in anticipation of his arrival. When the guards finished, smoke rose from the stage and, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a very short, peculiar-looking man walking toward center stage. At first glance, the entire audience burst into laughter — the mechanism used to make Lord Farquaad short was not only impressive but hilarious.
Joey Bucheker, who portrayed Farquaad, performed the role on his knees with costume legs attached in front, creating the illusion that Farquaad was actually walking on tiny legs. The physical comedy alone earned some of the biggest laughs of the night. Lord Farquaad’s narcissistic tendencies were portrayed perfectly by Joey Bucheker, and watching him wobble across the stage was pure entertainment.
And, of course, Nicholas Lama’s performance as Shrek deserves all the praise as well. Nicholas Lama played the part of a misunderstood ogre who yearns to live his life just like all the fairy-tale creatures. Though Shrek stresses that he prefers to spend his days isolated, away from society, Nicholas Lama was able to uncover the inner workings of Shrek and his underlying desire for companionship. I never realized how complex the character of Shrek was, but after watching this performance I learned how Shrek is not different from the rest of us.
Everyone did a terrific job, and I genuinely wish I could go through each performer and highlight what I loved about their individual contributions. At the end of the day, the show was truly outstanding. Songs like “Freak Flag” carried an important message, and with so many children in the audience, I was glad they were able to hear it: be unapologetically yourself. No matter what challenges you face, remember to love who you are.
I appreciated the show’s overarching theme, and I believe its message resonates with audiences of all ages. I’d also like to congratulate O’Connell & Company for such a memorable production, as well as the creative team — from the director to the choreographer to the set designers — because it truly takes a team to bring a show like this to life.
In the end, Shrek the Musical proved to be a heartfelt, hilarious and enjoyable experience.
Saqib Khan is the assistant features editor and can be reached at saqib.khan@ubspectrum.com
