Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that Shrek the Musical is a DVD release of the Broadway musical based on the Shrek animated movie. It has basically the same plot and characters and even much of the same dialogue as is in the original Shrek movie but with added song-and-dance numbers. As with its predecessor, it has quite a bit of adult innuendo, potty humor, and gross-out jokes, though the musical does seem to have a bit more adult humor than the cartoon. The play also adds more backstory to main characters Shrek and Fiona, both of which are quite dark and a little scary: Shrek is sent off by his parents at age 7 to fend for himself, and Fiona is sent to live in a tower alone as a young girl. There's also some mild profanity ("damn" and "hell") and some scary scenes with characters being threatened with execution and Shrek being chased by townsfolk with torches and pitchforks.

Sexual Content

Although no real sexy stuff is shown, there is quite a bit of adult innuendo, including an extended series of jokes about Lord Farquaad's tall tower compensating for something. The big bad wolf also sings, "They tore my granny dress and called me a hot and tranny mess."

Violence

There are a few scenes showing children in peril, including a scene with a 7-year-old Shrek being sent off into the world alone to fend for himself where he encounters angry villages and ogre hunters with torches and pitchforks. Lord Farquaad banishes characters and threatens them with execution. There's also a scene where a fire-breathing dragon chases Donkey, Shrek, and Fiona, and actors dressed like skeletons writhe and dance around the stage.

Language

Some mild profanity is used, including "hell" and "damn." There's also a lot of potty humor (including a song that mostly consists of Fiona and Shrek burping and farting), and the fairy tale creatures are called "fruitcakes and freaks."

Social Behavior

As in the animated Shrek, the message is that everyone should be accepted for who he or she is, whether a princess, an ogre, or a wooden puppet. This is especially brought home in the song "Freak Flag," which shows the fairy tale creatures proudly proclaiming, "It's time to stop the hiding, it's time to stand up tall / Sing, hey, world, I'm different, and here I am, splinters and all!"

Consumerism

Not applicable

Drugs / Tobacco / Alcohol

Both Lord Farquaad and Shrek are shown drinking a cocktail. There's also a reference to some "funny mushrooms."