A prickly green ogre with a heart of gold stomps into the UAE this weekend.
Shrek will take the stage in the capital and Dubai in a Broadway play based on the award-winning DreamWorks film franchise, which irreverently subverted traditional fairy tales in its story about an ogre who reluctantly goes on a quest to rescue a princess and ends up falling in love with her – only to find out she’s a lot like him.
Boasting a fresh score packed with 19 songs, Shrek – The Musical is backed by a young cast, led by American theatre actor Kyle Timson.
Timson, who has played lead characters in productions of Sweeney Todd, The Wedding Singer and The Fiddler on the Roof,talks about the pros and cons of getting into character – from sweating it out in a big, padded bodysuit to tottering about in four-inch platform shoes.
What was the audition process for the role?
I went to an audition in New York City where they asked me to learn some stuff from the show and come back a few times. Each time I had to do it for different people involved in the show until finally they decided I was fit for the role.
How many countries have you toured so far?
The UAE will be my third country. We opened in Istanbul and are currently in Doha before heading to Abu Dhabi.
What was the challenge in portraying an ogre?
The costume and make-up are very intense for my character. Shrek is so iconic from the movie that we try our best to make him look like he hopped right off the screen onto the stage. It gets hot inside the suit during the show but it’s nothing a little Gatorade can’t fix.
So how long does it take to get into character?
The make-up takes about an hour and involves prosthetics, face paint and a lot of fancy products that make me really look like Shrek. The costume is pretty simple. I wear a big, padded fatsuit to fill out my body and make me look ogre-size. Then I put on a big shirt, pants and vest over it that look just like what he wears in the movie. Finally, I step into boots that have four-inch platforms lifts in them to make me look taller. All this takes about two hours.
How do you explain Shrek’s endearing appeal?
Shrek has a message that everyone needs to be themselves. No matter how weird you are or what you look like, there is someone out there who will love you for you. Everyone can have a happy ending.
How is the vibe behind the scenes before each show?
Rehearsals are funny because everyone is in their street clothes but talking like the character they are portraying, whether Donkey or Shrek. It made saying some of the lines feel very silly.
What can the UAE audience expect from this adaptation?
I look forward to making the audience happy. We want to make them laugh and cry and have an incredible two hours of escape in this wonderful world.
• Shrek – The Musical is at du Forum on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi from tomorrow until Saturday; and at Dubai Media City Amphitheatre from March 30 to April 3. Tickets cost from Dh200 at www.tixbox.com
aahmed@thenational.ae
The biog
Name: Salem Alkarbi
Age: 32
Favourite Al Wasl player: Alexandre Oliveira
First started supporting Al Wasl: 7
Biggest rival: Al Nasr
What is Folia?
Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.
Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."
Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.
In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love".
There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.
While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."
Players Selected for La Liga Trials
U18 Age Group
Name: Ahmed Salam (Malaga)
Position: Right Wing
Nationality: Jordanian
Name: Yahia Iraqi (Malaga)
Position: Left Wing
Nationality: Morocco
Name: Mohammed Bouherrafa (Almeria)
Position: Centre-Midfield
Nationality: French
Name: Mohammed Rajeh (Cadiz)
Position: Striker
Nationality: Jordanian
U16 Age Group
Name: Mehdi Elkhamlichi (Malaga)
Position: Lead Striker
Nationality: Morocco
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
No Shame
Lily Allen
(Parlophone)
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Essentials
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Delhi from about Dh950 return including taxes.
The hotels
Double rooms at Tijara Fort-Palace cost from 6,670 rupees (Dh377), including breakfast.
Doubles at Fort Bishangarh cost from 29,030 rupees (Dh1,641), including breakfast. Doubles at Narendra Bhawan cost from 15,360 rupees (Dh869). Doubles at Chanoud Garh cost from 19,840 rupees (Dh1,122), full board. Doubles at Fort Begu cost from 10,000 rupees (Dh565), including breakfast.
The tours
Amar Grover travelled with Wild Frontiers. A tailor-made, nine-day itinerary via New Delhi, with one night in Tijara and two nights in each of the remaining properties, including car/driver, costs from £1,445 (Dh6,968) per person.
Opening day UAE Premiership fixtures, Friday, September 22:
- Dubai Sports City Eagles v Dubai Exiles
- Dubai Hurricanes v Abu Dhabi Saracens
- Jebel Ali Dragons v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
