Shrek the Musical
at Academy of the New Church

Reviewed on April 20, 2018

Julia Jennings
Upper Moreland High School
Submitted for publication to Philadelphia Inquirer - 1

In a world where division and conflict can seem far too common at times, it is crucial to remember the importance of accepting others in spite of their differences, and celebrating what makes everyone unique. Academy of the New Church reinforced this message of acceptance through their recent performance of Shrek the Musical.

This iconic stage production follows the adventures of an ogre named Shrek and his friend the donkey as they challenge social norms in the kingdom of Duloc and embark on a journey to rescue Princess Fiona from the menacing tower in which she is imprisoned. Although Shrek first begins this journey with the simple intent to rid his swamp of some pesky fairytale creatures, in the end he finds greater acceptance, friendship, and even love.

Academy of the New Church undertook the difficult task of performing a fantasy production with intricate character costuming and makeup, and yet the production captivated the audience with mesmerizing set pieces, impressive acting, and likeable characters who brought the story to life.

Leading the cast of fantastical misfits was Shrek the ogre, played by Tim Radcliffe. Radcliffe embodied the role, keeping a consistent and impressive European accent for the length of the performance. As his sidekick, the Donkey, Bradley Robinson added another element of humor to the show with impressive, well-timed comedic delivery. Camryn Buss brought to life the role of the earnest yet exasperated Princess Fiona with charm, wit, and excellent vocals.

Stepping into the role of Lord Farquaad only days before the performance, Zach Lambertus performed impeccably, with confident mastery of the role. Another stand-out was actor James Gay as Pinocchio, with amazing, genuine delivery and incredible falsetto vocals. As the dragon, Emily Martin was a powerful singer and a dramatic actress. The dragon's "wings", played by Rayna Synnestvedt and Mikalah Klippenstein were also a highlight in the scene, with mysterious, graceful choreography. The Fairytale creatures added incredible energy to the performance, as did the two younger Fionas, Serena Boyeson and Madison Zagorski, both also bringing charming vocals to the show.

Perhaps the most impressive element of the production was the dynamic set, creating the incredible illusion of the depths of a forest, the interior of a castle, and the cramped enclosure of an isolated tower. The hair and makeup were equally impressive, and along with the costumes, helped to bring many fantasy animals to life with intricate detail.

With authentic acting, impressive set design, and an important message, Academy of the New Church's performance of Shrek helped to remind the audience that it is the differences between us and the unique capabilities possessed by each person that make this such a "big, bright, beautiful world".

Rachael Hesse
Phoenixville Area High School
Submitted for publication to Philadelphia Inquirer - 2

The best kind of classic fairytales don't come without dainty princesses, wooden puppets, and clandestine happy endings; but what really is a good story without a slimy green ogre, a talking donkey, and a belching princess? Academy of the New Church's production of Shrek the Musical enchanted the audience right into a new kind of fairytale.

Based on the 2001 Oscar winner for Best Animated Feature from Dreamworks, and the book by David Lindsay-Abaire and music by Jeanine Tesori: Shrek-The Musical tells the tale of an outcast Ogre named Shrek who wants nothing more than a life of farts inside his dirty swamp…. very much alone. When he finds his home infested with other outcast fairytale creatures, he leaves for Duloc in hope to have his swamp once again. Shrek ends up making a deal with a short, (not so sweet) Lord Farquaad to gain his land back, but first he needs to save a princess from a dragon-guarded tower.

Shrek played by Tim Radcliffe embodied the theme of the show to be proud of who you are with a great accent, and a dream go someday be a hero. Radcliffe shared the stage with the energetic Bradley Robinson (Donkey) and the elegant Camryn Buss (Fiona), who showed off her amazing tap dancing skills in the song "Morning Person" with the Dancing Rats.

Standouts among the supporting cast included Zach Lambertus who stepped into the role of Lord Farquaad only two days before opening night with all lines and lyrics already memorized. James Gay who played Pinocchio had perfect comedic timing and truly stole the show whenever he entered the stage in his entertaining falsetto voice.

Another notable performance was that of the Dragon, Emily Martin with her powerful vocals in the song "Forever" made it one of the most enjoyable numbers of the show. In the number "I Know It's Today", Young Fiona played by Madison Zagorski, and Serena Boyesen who played Teen Fiona had compelling vocals and beautiful harmonies with Camryn Buss (Fiona) that brought the audience to their feet.

The ANC Makeup Team with Nita Mizhquiri, Emily Martin, and Crew had several very quick beautiful makeup changes. The sets created and designed by the Stagecraft Class were breathtaking, gave life to the stage, and showed just how important the production team can be.

ANC's production was filled with a very important message that is extremely relevant to the political climate of today; be yourself and be proud. Academy of the New Church's production of Shrek-The Musical inspired everyone in the audience, and made sure that they remembered that it is a "Big Bright Beautiful World" out there!

Xandra Coleman
Phoenixville Area High School
Submitted for publication to The Academian

Embracing the fantastical swampy story of Shrek the Musical with a poignant message of acceptance was the Academy of the New Church.

Most recognize Shrek from the three animated Dreamworks movies, but the story of Shrek began enchanting audiences from the stage in 2008 after its adaptation into a musical. Proceeding its twelve months on tour, the beloved plot concerning one smelly ogre, a talking donkey, a cursed princess, and the fate of the Duloc kingdom is enjoyed on high school stages around the country.

The ensemble of the Academy of the New Church's production displayed an entertaining commitment to the outlandish aspects of Shrek the Musical. Actors playing the roles of a variety of fairytale creatures presented each character with notable distinction while the tap dancing rat ensemble accepted the fantastical plot line with a strong choreographed dance number.

Leading the cast, Camryn Buss captured the stage through her portrayal of a charismatic Fiona with consistent vocals and expressive acting that displayed an understanding of her character's personality. Fellow lead Tim Radcliffe, took on the role of Shrek valiantly through a demonstration of engaging commitment to character and strong acting moments.

Adding the flares of comedy were actors Bradley Robinson as Donkey, and James Gay as Pinocchio. Bradley Robinson's performance was characterized by delightful comedic delivery of lines admist the combating of microphone issues. James Gay's command over his falsetto voice along with his sassy acting brought the character of Pinocchio to life.

Another notable performance was made by Zach Lambertus who impressively overcame the challenges of stepping into the role of Lord Farquaad two days before opening night. He managed an entertaining performance with strong vocals along with good physicality and delivery of lines.

Behind the scenes, the hair and makeup crew showcased their talents on the faces of a variety of actors, notably the Dragon, Emily Martin. Their creation of dragon horns and application of pleasing makeup worked only to enhance Emily Martin's performance on stage. Academy of the New Church's very own StageCraft Class also left their mark through their numerous well crafted, practical, and carefully designed set pieces.

The Academy of the New Church surely presented the 'Big Bright Beautiful World' of Shrek the Musical with commitment and flare.

Holly Meyers
Abington Friends School
Submitted for publication to The Academian

Experience a slew of eccentric fairytale characters, a talking donkey, and dancing blind rats all without missing an uplifting lesson in acceptance. All of this and more at Academy of the New Church's production of Shrek the Musical.

The show follows its protagonist, Shrek, as he goes through on a magical journey to right the wrongs of one very short, yet very dubious lord, discovering precious messages of friendship and true love along the way. Shrek the Musical, based on the now classic modern fairy tale, first came to Broadway in 2008 and accumulated many fans.

As a whole, the cast created a production that highlighted many individual characters in their large cast, while still seeming cohesive. This paired with some perfect comedic timing from supporting roles and the show was very enjoyable to watch and an exciting time.

Tim Radcliffe, who played the role Shrek himself, successfully accepted the aura of his character, making for a very successful, and believable rendition of the character, all while also carrying an accent throughout the whole show very convincing, a presentation of his immense dedication. Fiona, played by Camryn Buss, seemed to have a natural chemistry with many of the characters on stage, making her characters fluctuating mood swings and unique sense of humor seem comfortable and natural.

Bradley Robinson, who played Donkey, was an audience favorite. His nearly perfect comedic timing, charming voice, and overall lovable portrayal of the character led many to await the moments he returned to the stage. Pinocchio, played by James Gay also served as a fan favorite, impressively carrying his comedic performance out in falsetto, an incredibly difficult task that Gay made seem natural.

The sets stood out as a highlight of the shows technical aspects. The show continuously transitioned between many, very large, sets, showing a group of individuals willing to devout an impressive amount of their time for an incredibly impressive outcome.

Academy of the New Church's production of Shrek the musical combined many comedic and fun accepts while not failing achieve a more serious and important message of acceptance and love.