History YMMV / ShrekTheMusical

* NightmareFuel: The dialogue leading up to "Donkey Pot Pie" is actually kind of disturbing, especially with lines like this...
-->'''Dragon:''' What's your name, pumpkin?\\

** Fiona. Some people praise Sutton Foster's performance to be one of the best among the cast, and find that it, along with the character's [[AdaptationExpansion additional depth and backstory]], makes her a better character than her film counterpart. Others are turned off by Musical!Fiona's more {{camp}}y aesthetic and behavior and find that it makes her too much like the Disney princesses she was meant to parody, and prefer Movie!Fiona's more natural "girl-next-door" design and mannerisms.

* BaseBreakingCharacter:

** Lord Farquaad, as pointed out by WebVideo/SchaffrillasProductions. While many people praise Christopher Siever's LargeHam performance and the hilarious StylisticSuck used to make him appear short, others dislike how Farquaad's backstory counters the main message of the ''Shrek'' franchise.

* BaseBreakingCharacter: Fiona. Some people praise Sutton Foster's performance to be one of the best among the cast, and find that it, along with the character's [[AdaptationExpansion additional depth and backstory]], makes her a better character than her film counterpart. Others are turned off by Musical!Fiona's more {{camp}}y aesthetic and behavior and find that it makes her too much like the Disney princesses she was meant to parody, and prefer Movie!Fiona's more natural "girl-next-door" design and mannerisms.

* BrokenBase: Fans are divided on how good the musical and its characters are as an adaptation of the source material; some consider it more charming and superior, while others (such as [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=om49c8HpBPM Musical Hell]]) are gleeful to tear it to pieces.

* ValuesDissonance: A minor example, but it's mentioned late in the production that [[spoiler:Grumpy kicked out Farquaad because he was [[BasementDweller 28 and living in his father's basement]]. Since the 2010s, many have effectively ''had no choice'' but to continue living with their parents into adulthood on account of economic problems and deficits.]]

* ValuesDissonance: A minor example, but it's mentioned late in the production that [[spoiler:Grumpy kicked out Farquaad because he was [[BasementDweller 28 and living in his father's basement]]. Since the 2010s, many adults have effectively ''had no choice'' but to continue living with their parents into adulthood on account of economic problems and deficits.]]

* RetroactiveRecognition: Gingy's original actress, Haven Paschall (nee Burton) gained wider recognition in 2013 as the voice of Serena in the English dub of ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}''.

** "Who I'd Be", the "[[Theatre/{{Wicked}} Defying Gravity]]" of ''Shrek''.
** The last verse of "I Know It's Today", which has Fiona singing tri-part harmony with her past selves.

** The Dragon's song, "Forever."

* SugarWiki/VisualEffectsOfAwesome: The Dragon puppet in the National Tour--huge, movie accurate and really cool looking.

** This is how most fans of the movies feel about the play. They feel like it ruins the whole charm of the franchise by turning it into a musical, changing certain plot points, and flanderizing the characters into [[WesternAnimation/ShrekForeverAfter jolly green jokes]].

* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: The initial reaction to the song "Donkey Pot Pie" being replaced with "Forever." This has died down since then.

* UncannyValley: In some productions (including the original Broadway cast), many of the characters look a bit ''off'' compared to their animated counterparts. For example, Shrek's blend of human facial features (such as smaller eyes) and ogre prosthetics can make him look less endearing than the film version. Human!Fiona also looks more made-up and less natural than her already slightly uncanny film incarnation, with a less flattering hairstyle.

* RainbowLens: It's easy to see "Freak Flag" as a Pride anthem, especially with lines like "It's not a choice you made, it's just the way you hatched!" and the overall theme of embracing who you are and being proud of it.

* EarWorm:
** ''"I think I got you beat, I think I got you beat! Yea-ah! Yea-ah! Yea-ah!"''
** ''"Sing a song, yes a travel song, when ya' gotta go somewhere~"''
** ''"I know it's todaaaayyyy, I know it's TODAAAAYYYY!"''
** "You're gonna stay, you're gonna stay, you're gonna staaaayyyyyy forever, forever, forever..."

* UncannyValley: In some productions (including the original Broadway cast), many of the characters look a bit ''off'' compared to their animated counterparts. For example, Shrek's blend of human facial features (such as smaller eyes) and ogre prosthetics can make him look less endearing than the film version. Human!Fiona also looks more made-up and less natural than her already [[UncannyValley slightly uncanny]] film incarnation, with a less flattering hairstyle.

* CrowningMusicOfAwesome: "Who I'd Be", the "[[Theatre/{{Wicked}} Defying Gravity]]" of ''Shrek''.
** The last verse of "I Know It's Today", which has Fiona singing tri-part harmony with her past selves.
** Most of the songs. The whole damn musical is show-stoppers everywhere.
** The Dragon's song, "Forever."
* EnsembleDarkHorse: Pinocchio. The mere fact that he was originally played by John Tartaglia may or may not have a lot to do with it.
* EarWorm: ''"I think I got you beat, I think I got you beat! Yea-ah! Yea-ah! Yea-ah!"''

* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: The initial reaction to the song "Donkey Pot Pie" being replaced with "Forever." This has died down since then.

** Most of the songs. Just about the whole damn musical is show-stoppers everywhere.