SHREK – Book and Lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire; Music by Jeanine Tesori; Directed by Kelly McAllister; Music Direction by Tanner Kelly; Choreography by Heather Westenskow. Produced by Parker Arts in partnership with Sasquatch Productions (Presented at the PACE Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Avenue, Parker) through February 8th. Tickets available at 303-805-6800 or ParkerArts.org.
If you haven’t seen SHREK in a while, you forget how funny the dialogue is. How all the corny jokes thrill the little kids in the audience, and how the more subtle ones tickle the adults. You forget the powerful way it pleads with you to “not judge me until you know me.” Seeing it again reminds you that we all have a freak flag that needs flying once and awhile. Now more than ever.
Sasquatch Productions is one of the three local theatre companies that Parker Arts partners with and always brings their audiences strong, well-constructed performances. Their team starts with Kelly McAllister as director, Tanner Kelly as Music Director, Heather Westenskow as Choreographer, and August Stoten as Producer. It’s a team that’s hard to beat. And they’ve pulled together a top-notch cast to augment their vision for this huge show.
Starting with Cooper Kaminsky as the lead, Libby Shull as the winsome Fiona, a wisecracking Moses Brown as Donkey, and a truly fearless Will Bryant as Lord Farquaad. Cooper’s strong voice and physical being created an equally strong Shrek who sings with heart, acts with authenticity, and farts like a champ. The part calls for someone who can do it all; it’s no wonder that Cooper was the first choice for the role.
Libby Shull, who was denied by Covid her first chance to play Fiona, brings an enthusiasm and joy to the role that is delightful. Her romantic idea of a white knight is quickly erased when her hero turns out to be green. But to watch her adjust with enthusiasm to the changes in her life is delightful. She dances with rats, belches with gusto, and welcomes each new and exciting day with vigor. Moses Brown as the smart talking Donkey delights the kids and adults alike with his banter and down-to-earth approach to friendship. He channels the original Eddie Murphy while still making the part his own. Our Lord Farquaad, Will Bryant, is new to Colorado, and aren’t we lucky to have attracted him. Having played major parts in musicals across the country, he brings a sassy interpretation to the “small” part of Fiona’s Prince Not-So-Charming. The physical strength it must take to do a role entirely on your knees to achieve all the “short” jokes in the script is unbelievable. But he does it with a quip on his lips and nary a tremor in his tibia.
The set is huge and moves miraculously well, aided by well-trained stagehands and cast members. Sliding panels adorned with murals of trees indicate the movement through the forest. Two tall towers that roll off and on encircle both sides of the set providing the setting for Fiona’s tower and Lord Farquaad’s castle. Smaller set pieces become Shrek’s cabin in the bog and various stops along the way through the woods. No expense has been spared in the creation of the set for this show. Add in the fantastic number of “fairy tale” costumes (each of them unique), knights in armor, and identical costumes for the denizens of Duloc, and you’ve got racks and racks of costumes backstage. Out of the cast of twenty-five, each actor plays at least two and often three or four roles, all having separate costumes.
The piece de la resistance is the huge – I mean Giant – dragon that August Stoten built and wears on stage to chase Donkey around. It spouts fire, waves its tail, and chases Farquaad into the trees. A gorgeous singer by the name of Thurzday provides the operatic quality voice for the Dragon in her love throes.
Fiona and Shrek may sing “I Think I Got You Beat” – but no one is beating this cast in providing a charming and relevant message.
A WOW factor of 8.5!