It's Not Easy Being Green?

Last Wednesday night, Annie and Elyse actually split up and saw two different shows: Shrek the Musical and White Christmas. This is not the first time we've split up... one time Annie and Dad saw the classic Broadway musical Swing! while Elyse and Mom saw Jesus Christ Superstar. We don't know why Annie was so intent on seeing Swing!, but nevertheless, she dragged Dad to see the masterpiece itself. Anyway, it's time for Shrek the Musical to try to defend itself in the quest to find out if it's a white world or green world.

• New musicals are fun because it's a whole bunch of songs you've never heard before and proceed to obsessively watch on YouTube because the soundtrack isn't out yet. Plus 5. But Minus about 4.5 because only 3 of the songs were catchy; the rest was just filler music. Most of the songs are very, very funny (lots of Broadway culture references), so that's cool. Plus 20. 
• In one of the songs, which was entertaining but not all that melodic, Shrek and Fiona duke it out to find out who has had it worse, and also to find out who is the grosser being. They take turns burping and passing gas. Having the sense of humor of a 2-year old,  I, of course, found this number funny. It was basically "Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better" but with flatulence. I'm really making you all want to see this show, aren't I? Umm, for Annie, about Plus 30. For everyone else, Minus 10.
• Christopher Seiber on his knees doing intricate, hilarious choreography will most likely get him nominated for a Tony for his portrayal of Lord Farquaad. Seriously, he's hilarious. If only his songs had been a bit more catchy. Plus 6.
• Obviously with big ol' Dreamworks Theatricals backing up this show, you're in for a big spectacle. The costumes, sets, lighting- it's basically just watching bags of money up on the stage. Some of the technical elements were amazing, like the transformation of Fiona into an Ogre, but some parts fall a little flat, like when Shrek and Donkey are crossing the bridge over the lava. I think some kinks still need to get worked out. For example, at one point Shrek amazingly does a back handspring. Who knew Brian Duh-Arcy James was capable of that? Just kidding, I knew it was a Shrek double. However, I did not know that seconds later, I'd see both Shreks onstage at the same time, not on purpose obviously. So, Plus 10, Minus 8... Plus 2. 
• Tickets to Shrek the Musical: free, thanks to your friend Caroline. Hot chocolate from Europa before the show: about 30 bucks. Getting to see Sutton Foster as a green ogre? PRICELESS. And kind of amazing. Never again will you get the opportunity to say, "Thank goodness... FINALLY Sutton Foster has gained weight!" Plus 1,000.
  

I don't feel like doing the math, but I think that Shrek is definitely going to win this battle. Proving that maybe it IS easy being green?