Three shrieks for Shrek the Musical at ROH

Fiona (Danica Carlson), Shrek (Alden Caple) and Donkey ( Joshua Paul Moore) (Courtesy photo)

Run with an ogre’s measured gait to the Rochester Opera House for Shrek The Musical, now in its final weekend.

The play has something for everyone, but mostly the adults, with enough blue sight gags, sexual innuendo and high jinks to have you snorting in the aisle.

The 3-foot-8 Farquaad (Tim Allen) is marvelous and steals the first act (after that he's just scintillating), but Shrek (Alden Caple), his vocals sometimes uneven at first, comes on strong in the play’s more tender moments later as a strong tenor voice finds its way out of that hideous mouth.

Like Phantom of the Opera and the Hunchback of Notre Dame, Shrek evokes the well-worn theme throughout literature of the ugly, hideous hero falling in love with the beautiful, ravishing heroine.

Of course, we all know that in Shrek, the heroine turns out to be an ugly ogre as well, that beauty’s only skin deep and yes, in fairy tales, they do live happily ever after.

But there’s a whole lot of bawdy jokes and bathroom banter to get through during this rollicking, sometimes ribald tale before we get to the orgasmic “I’m a Believer” extravaganza at the end.

Through it all you can almost envision Mike Myers and Eddie Murphy doing their thing as Shrek and Donkey (Joshua Paul Moore).

Princess Fiona (Danica Carlson) was solid, with a powerful voice that – just like in the movie – blasts that poor bird to smithereens.

Pinocchio (Lauren Marin) steals the show during the misfit fairy tale scenes. Her convincing body language has you looking up for the puppeteer. Quirky, imaginative costuming by Laura Jones stands out in the ensemble stage gatherings.

And we must mention the husky, sexy-voiced Jennifer Batchelder, who plays the dragon with reckless, fire-breathing bravado.

Allusions to The Dating Game and all those old-school fairy tale characters that have lost ground to Ninja Bunnies, Power Turtles or whatever it is children under 10 watch these days, will be mostly wasted on the young’uns in the audience.

Age does have its privileges.

A solid five-piece live accompaniment from the orchestra pit enlivens the performance so seamlessly you almost don’t appreciate their fine effort.

Speaking of seamless, the direction (Kelli Leigh, Ann Connors) and dance numbers are brisk and lively, respectively. The extended stage will have the ogre so in your face you’ll appreciate what he ate out of the swamp for dinner.

Yes, this play definitely passes the smell test.

Highlights for me? The end of the first act as Shrek and Fiona – unaware of each other’s presence - gaze at a full moon and sing a hauntingly emotional duet about their ghastly appearance and inability to find love and fit in with the “normal” world.

And who hasn’t felt that way, one time or another.

Like I said, something for everyone.