Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

The Vox Box

Belching and Breaking Wind…How Beautiful

This Scottish ogre is singing his heart out. (Joan Marcus)
This Scottish ogre is singing his heart out. (Joan Marcus)

The very green (and very sarcastic) Scottish ogre has now found his place: center stage.

Sunday was the night for 'Shrek the Musical', the official debut of the 'screen-to-stage musical' based on the 2001 animated film and children's book by William Steig.

Played by Brian d'Arcy James and Sutton Foster, Shrek the ogre and Fiona the princess test their relationship to eventually discover a romantic chemistry that, The NY Times reports, is deeper than their "shared affinity for breaking wind and belching really loudly."

This show can walk the walk, but can it talk the talk? (Or in this musical's case, sing the song?)

" 'Shrek', for the record, is not bad," continues The New York Times. The movie utilizes it's iconic characters and wide age range of humor to hook it's fans.  When compared to other Disney-inspired musicals, such as "Tarzan" and "Little Mermaid", this ogre-tastic fractured fairy tale is worth your time.



In 2006, then-editor Steve Smith of The Spokesman-Review had the idea of starting a publication for an often forgotten audience: teenagers. The Vox Box was a continuation of the Vox, an all-student staffed newspaper published by The Spokesman-Review. High school student journalists who staffed the Vox made all content decisions as they learn about the trade of journalism. This blog's mission was to give students an opportunity to publish their voices. The Vox Box and the Vox wrapped up in June 2009, but you can follow former staffers' new blog at http://voxxiez.blogspot.com.