Shrek
at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School

Reviewed on February 27, 2016

Melissa Kean
Piper High School
Submitted for publication to Floridatheateronstage.com

An ogre, a princess, and a talking donkey, oh my! Majory Stoneman Douglas's production of "Shrek the Musical" stole our hearts and swept us off to Duloc from the moment the curtain opened, to the moment the cast took their well-deserved bows.

Opening on Broadway in December 2008, Shrek the Musical was nominated for 12 Drama Desk awards, 8 Tony awards, and a Grammy award for "Best Musical Show Album". The book and lyrics were written by David Lindsay-Abaire while the music was written by Jeanine Tesori. Shrek the Musical centers around an ogre named Shrek and a hilarious talking donkey named Donkey, who only wishes for Shrek to appreciate him. This dynamic duo are on a quest to get Shrek's swamp back from Lord Farquaad, who forced the fairytale characters out of the kingdom of Duloc and sentenced all of them to live on Shrek's property. Farquaad sends Shrek and Donkey to rescue a princess for him, Fiona, who was locked in a tower for most of her life. Eventually, as a turn of events spiral and secrets are revealed, it is obvious that Shrek and Fiona are perfect for each other and that "beautiful aint always pretty".

Stoneman Douglas accurately captured these diverse characters in such a way that was unique, but also remained true to the stories we all know and love. The show was impressively student directed by a senior named Lee Alhanti, who not only brought originality to the show, but made each moment a comedic moment and told the story of Shrek in such an engaging manner, leaving audience members throwing their heads back in fits of laughter, and even pulling out a tissue or two along the way.

Shrek, the insecure, complicated green ogre was portrayed by Brendan Duff, who captured Shrek's in-depth personality with ease as he took the stage during many of his solo performances. Donkey, also known as Dylan Baierlein, had flawless comedic timing as he pranced along the stage with his likeable personality and his authentic take on such an iconic character. The relatable Fiona, played by Lexi Angel, showed off her impressive vocal range as she appeared to truly embody this optimistic princess. Farquaad, portrayed by Bridget Foley, interacted with the audience in such a genuine fashion, never missing a beat.

Other actors worth noting include Tatiana Tardalo, who surprised audience members with her impressive voice while portraying the cookie with a temper Gingy, Michelle Malove, who graced about the stage with sass and confidence as she took on the role of the Dragon, and last but certainly not least: Theresa Prayther, who not only played the adorable, hysterical Pinnochio, but also student-choreographed the show!

The technical aspects of the show brought the entire production together, with colorful and aesthetically pleasing sets, unique lighting design by Euan Beith, sound design by Adam Alhanti and Rose Popkin, and vivid makeup design by Michaela Bajic and Kelly Blauschild. Although there were moments where the lighting and sound were somewhat inconsistent, the production overall was nothing short from fantastic.

The students at Stoneman Douglas encouraged audiences to let their freak flag fly in their Shrek-tacular rendition of "Shrek the Musical".

Sam Segreto
Archbishop McCarthy High School
Submitted for publication to Floridatheateronstage.com

You can say that I'm a believer of a classic love story and fairytale. Marjory Stoneman Douglas' production of Shrek The Musical showed a big bright beautiful presentation, transporting the audience to the land of Duloc for this admired 21st century classic.

Based on the beloved 2001 DreamWorks movie, Shrek the Musical has been telling (well, singing) the story of an Ogre's life since its debut in December of 2008. It centers around Shrek, who is living a happy but solitary life on his swamp. This is all turned around when several unwanted fairytale visitors inform him that they were exiled to his humble abode by decree of Farquaad, ruler of the Kingdom of Duloc. Shrek then embarks on a journey with his sidekick, Donkey, to rescue a princess for Farquaad so he can get his swamp back.

The large-musical cast kept their energy booming throughout the entire show, leaving me baffled that it was almost entirely student produced. Student-director Lee Alhanti did a prodigious job of bringing the cast together to for an unforgettable showing of this twist of a fairytale.

Brendan Duff did a suitable job as the frightening, farting, fumbling Shrek. He surely had everybody beat when it came to keeping his accent consistent throughout the production, even with his nine musical numbers. Fiona, portrayed by Lexi Angel, graced the stage with both her angelic voice in performances like "I Know It's Today" and animated dance moves in "Morning Person." Both Duff and Angel did a fine job of establishing their characters and connecting with each other and the audience, making it believable that they were really two odd balls that found love.

Power sliding across the stage, Dylan Baierlein as Shrek's trusty "steed", Donkey, was the glue of the comedic aspects of the show. Baierlein's bumbling enthusiasm and high energy set the tone for the show with powerful numbers like "Don't Let me Go" and "Travel Song." Bridget Foley's portrayal as the main antagonist, Farquaad, had the whole audience on their knees in laughter. Her consistent energy showed no indication that she did the entire show only using half her body.

Key scenes like the apparition of the Dragon proved Euan Bieth's lighting design and special FX skills; the fog drifting across the stage and the sharp, flaming, crimson eyes added the mystic atmosphere that defers from the otherwise comedic musical. Likewise, Michaela Bajic and Kelly Blauschild's makeup design brought all the storybook characters to life. Shrek's heavily green face didn't fade at all during his time on stage. Even little details like Farquaad's 5 o'clock shadow and eyebrows added to the overall production.

The cast and crew Marjory Stoneman Douglas' showing of Shrek the Musical truly brought the magical land of Duloc and all its characters to life. While making the audience cackle throughout the entire show, they showed that everybody can get a happy ending.

Hannah Baker
Palm Beach Central
Submitted for publication to Floridatheateronstage.com

Shrek the Musical is a comedic piece, written by David Lindsay-Abaire, about accepting yourself for who you are and how the things you have endured in your life all make up who you are as a person. The basic story line revolves around an ogre named Shrek who, with his new friend Donkey, are enlisted to go on a quest to rescue the princess Fiona from a tower at the request of Lord Farquaad. The trio encounters many twists and turns throughout the duration of the show, providing a hilarious and entertaining story that all ages can enjoy.

At Majory Stoneman Douglas High School, the production greatly exceeded my expectations. There were very few problems with the sound, the largest being the mics in both acts, however every person in the cast worked through this by having excellent projection and voice control throughout the entire show. The set, while simple was extremely effective. I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that the set was transitioned very smoothly and there were minor malfunctions.

Perhaps the most astounding part of the whole production was how the three Fiona's were not able to be seen prior to their performance of "I Know It's Today." This performance also stood out to me because young Fiona, portrayed by Ashley Paseltiner, blew me away with the fact that I could still clearly hear and understand her despite the fact that her microphone was not working. The harmonies in this number were amazing as well, their vocals and breath control were spot on and blew me away.

In terms of dialect and accents, I found that Shrek, portrayed by Brendan Duff, had a firm grasp of what the character of Shrek required from the accent that is commonly associated with him. He maintained his accent throughout the whole show including while he was singing which I found to be very impressive. Pinocchio (Theresa Prayther) also had the nasally tone down to a science and did a good job incorporating it into her character. However, many of the actors may have been too worried with keeping their voices the same which may have taken away from the song and scene.

The ensemble of fairy tale creatures made the show. The White Rabbit (Kali Clougherty) especially captivated not only myself but the people around me with her dancing during "Freak Flag".

"Freak Flag" was my absolute favorite musical number in the whole show. The outstanding choreography kept me engaged and literally on the edge of my seat. The bright colors of the costumes matched with the singing and all around high energy helped push the number to the top of my list. Each of the members of the ensemble were together yet separate as they made their characters their own and each shone in their own way.

If I had to choose one person who made the show, I would cast my vote to Bridget Foley who played Lord Farquaad. Her comedic timing was outstanding and I give her all the props for doing the entire show on her knees. Her singing was mostly on key and we could always hear her. She never upstaged or took away from other scenes or characters making her my favorite part.

Shrek the Musical is all around a spectacular show and Majory Stoneman Douglas did a phenomenal job. Congratulations to the cast and crew.

Carlie Wright
Cardinal Gibbons High School
Submitted for publication to Floridatheateronstage.com

What is a musical without an ogre, a beautiful princess in a tower and a couple of fairytale creatures? "I know that today," it is Marjory Stoneman Douglas' beautiful production of "Shrek the Musical."

Shrek The Musical is a musical with music by Jeanine Tesori and book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire. It is based on the 2001 DreamWorks film Shrek and the original Broadway production opened in December 2008, and closed after a 12 month run in January of 2010. It was followed by a tour in the United States which opened in 2010. The musical opens with baby Shrek on his seventh birthday being sent away by his parents. Shrek is sent on a mission by Lord Farquaad to rescue Princess Fiona who is in a tower guarded by a dragon. Along the way, Shrek meets Donkey, a loving friend who wants to help Shrek in his endeavors. Eventually, Shrek and Fiona fall in love and they, along with all of the fairytale creatures, live happily.

This production blew me away from the moment the curtain rose. Within the first couple of minutes, the audience got to enjoy a beautiful set, outstanding costumes and fine detailed makeup that put you right into the story. Makeup designers, Michaela Bajic and Kelly Blauschild did a beautiful job of representing these characters, most notably, Shrek. Shrek, played by, Brendan Duff, not only had the tech aspects of the character, but he portrayed the character flawlessly. Duff amazed the audience with his Shrek accent which was never lost throughout the entire performance, and in his solo, "When Words Fail." Another notable performer was Theresa Prayther, not only did she play Pinnochio but she set the tone with amazing choreography. Prayther's choreography was relevant and exciting and her portrayal of Pinnochio was just as impressive. Each time Prayther and Tatiano Tardalo (Gingy) entered, the audience was in full hysterics. The Donkey and Shrek relationship in this show was truly organic and well thought out with great progression throughout the performance. Donkey, played by Dylan Baierlein had great comedic timing and really kept the audience interested every time he was on stage. Douglas made this show a "Big Bright Beautiful World" for the audience to enjoy.

As a whole this production was beautifully directed and performed. Though there was a lack of energy in Act I, Farquaad played by Bridget Foley, brought it back up whenever she entered the stage. With her portrayal of a man and her ability to play her entire part on her knees, she was very entertaining and very enjoyable to watch. With a few mic issues and lighting problems, the tech aspect of the show was almost flawless. The dragon scene and special affects grabbed the audiences attention though, there was some moments missed because of the fog special effect only being on one side. A huge addition to the show was Lexi Angel (Fiona) with her outstanding vocals and character commitment. This production of Shrek was a success and a joy to watch with amazing characters, special effects and makeup.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas' big, bright, beautiful production of "Shrek the Musical," kept audiences interested, had great commitment and kept us in hysterics!

Valen-Marie Santos
American Heritage School
Submitted for publication to Floridatheateronstage.com

An animated gingerbread man, a frustrated wooden boy, a not-so-charming lord, an enthusiastic donkey, a beautiful princess, and, of course, a disgruntled ogre- these are just a few of the hilariously dynamic characters featured in Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School's production of "Shrek the Musical."

With music by Jeanine Tesori and book and lyrics by David-Lindsay Abaire, "Shrek the Musical" was based on the successful Dreamworks film "Shrek", which was originally inspired by William Steig's 1990 book "Shrek!" The story revolves around an ogre named Shrek, whose swamp has been taken over. Hoping to win back his swamp, Shrek goes on a journey to bring Princess Fiona from the feared dragon's castle to Lord Farquaad. With a talking donkey tagging along, Shrek succeeds in this mission, falling in love with Fiona in the process. Although the 2008 Broadway version of "Shrek the Musical" and the Dreamworks film differ slightly, both convey the same inspiring lesson of acceptance and true love. This lesson shined through Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School's production of Shrek, which exhibited a level of talent and commitment more commonly seen in professional theatre.

The technical elements of the show soared beyond high school level. Fog sound effects and red lighting gave the stage a darker, more mysterious feeling during the first dragon scene. Shifts from warm orange lighting to colder, bluer lighting created the effect of time passing. Transitions between scenes ran smoothly and quickly. A transparent screen helped to shift the mood and further the plot in songs such as "Who I'd Be." Overall, the technical aspects of the production greatly helped the progression of the story and successfully set the mood for every scene.

The performers must also be commended for the brilliant commitment and honesty they brought to the stage. Despite some troubles with annunciation, every actor fully embodied their character physically and mentally, bringing a light energy to the show that only increased as the story unfolded. Tatiana Tardalo's (Gingy) use of a high pitched voice enhanced her character and the comedy of the show. Brendan Duff (Shrek) created a strong and heavy physical character while keeping a consistent accent. The fairytale creatures' memorable performance of "Freak Flag" was filled with high energy and great comedy, making it one of the highlights of the production.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School's exceptional production of "Shrek the Musical" evoked both emotion and laughter. Add on to this the fact that it was both student directed and student choreographed, and the talent and dedication of these students can truly be seen. Not all schools are willing to take on such a technically complex piece and make it almost completely student produced. Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School took this challenge and rose much higher than high school expectations. Watching the production was truly an escape from reality and a reminder of the true magic of live theatre.

Jose Baez-Deleon
Piper High School
Submitted for publication to The Forum

The production of "Shrek" is a wonderful musical originally a story written by William Steig. The original production was released September 10, 2008 and lasted for 12 months. A musical such as Shrek, having the reputation of being a high energy show really added to the awe of how a high school such as Stoneman Douglas executed such a wonderful performance.

Detail and preparation come to mind when looking at the fine points the production touches upon. The use of a silhouette in the beginning of the show really captured the idea of Shrek's memory. Originality such as Fiona's tower being put on a turn table added volume to the set. Being that the production of "Shrek" requires a vast amount of stage energy, it was adequately captured when the cast would keep the consistency of keeping character with one another even if they weren't center stage. Cues were for the most part on point such as the exploding bird, popping at the right moment in Fiona's bird song.

The vocals performed by Brendan Duff and Lexi Angel throughout the production and how they portrayed their character gave wonderful character development, giving more depth to their love story. Lights were placed and subtly adjusted to compliment the performance from the vibrant hues of the morning light to the textured light and the silhouette giving that feeling of being in the forest. Stage presence from ensemble and supporting actors such as the Dulocers or the Guards with smooth synchronized dancing and reactions kept scenes moving along with ease. Theresa Prayther who played Pinnochio wonderfully enacted a quirky little wood puppet wanting to be a real boy with her well kept accent and presence.

Brendan Duff and Dylan Baierlein who played Shrek and Donkey both showed great chemistry, really enacting the roles in a manner that truly conveyed their growing friendship. Makeup and costumes were excellently chosen and applied in this production for a most believable performance. The inclusion of a flying dragon with beading read lights for eyes is but just one extravagant prop that was brilliant Incorporated. Over all Stoneman Douglass' performance nicely student oriented and directed musical by Lee Alhanti left the crowd in a standing ovation.