Shrek the Musical
at Governor Simcoe Secondary School

Reviewed on April 29, 2023

Izzy Schiff-Malins
Laura Secord
Submitted for publication to St. Catharines Standard

Governor Simcoe waves their freak flag high with their rendition of "Shrek The Musical."

The story of Shrek is known by many: social outcasts overcoming persecution and accepting who they are - no longer hiding away in the swamp. "Shrek the Musical" was published in 2008 by David Lindsey-Abaire, based on the Dreamworks smash hit film "Shrek" from 2001. This adventure is full of romance and found family, with quirky characters and witty dialogue, energetically portrayed by the young cast of Simcoe actors.

The show begins with Shrek (Brayden Maguire) and Fiona's (Eva St. Laurent) tumultuous childhoods, both affected by parental abandonment. The first big song is "Story of My Life," an entertaining display of the fairytale freaks where we first get introduced to the scene-stealing Pinocchio (Raiden Hearn). He embodies the role with the slumped stance and high-pitched vocals of a puppet. The rest of the fairytale ensemble is full of colourful and recognizable storybook creatures, like the Big Bad Wolf (Grayce Zakarian) and Humpty Dumpty (Ciera Sanders). As Shrek, Maguire lumbers around the stage, towering over the lively and zealous Donkey (Katrina Pennings), whose strong voice and exuberant physicality add another layer of comedy to the show.

Fiona (Eva St. Laurent) owns the stage with her engaging vocals and stage presence in all her solos. The song "I Know It's Today," was a standout performance where we see Fiona in childhood, teenagehood, and adulthood. Sophie Cadeau, who plays ensemble characters and teenage Fiona, personifies this hopeful song and matches the energy of Eva's performance. Lord Farquaad (Kyler McRae) gives a compact blast of comedy, tottering across the stage on his knees and flamboyantly portraying this undersized villain.

This show is unique as it has teacher participation to fill roles where there were no students available, like Dragon and the parents of Shrek and Fiona, as well as the live music throughout the show. Two young kids, Isaac Risko and Maddy Magnotta, engage the audience with each scene they're in. Risko hilariously plays Farquaad's father, and Magnotta plays a sweet young Fiona, as the audience let out audible "awws" at both their performances.

Governor Simcoe's crew of student prop makers and set painters successfully created the fantastical atmosphere of the show. The impressive costume crew rose to the challenge of changing Fiona from a 'pretty princess' to 'great green ogre' in under a minute. Young creatives at Simcoe (Jeong-Won Park and Gabe Patri) designed the program's imaginative logo of Shrek and Donkey, and backstage management shows how student involvement is still a big part of this production.

As Rassika Risko states in her director's notes, the lyric "This is our story" is the true meaning of this production. "Our" story is one everyone can relate to - and this performance is as layered as an ogre, showing how overcoming adversity and practising self-acceptance is the fairytale ending we all deserve.

Sameera Ahmad
Sir Winston Churchill
Submitted for publication to St. Catharines Standard

What "A Big Bright Beautiful World" Governor Simcoe Secondary School created with their adaptation of "Shrek The Musical." With over nineteen songs, 103 costumes including an impressive 58-second human-to-ogre costume change, and magnificent sets, "This Is How A Dream Comes True."

"Shrek The Musical" follows the plot of the DreamWorks Production "Shrek," where a lonesome ogre finds himself on a life-changing journey alongside a wisecracking donkey, a feisty princess who resists her rescue, an impatient prince, and a village-load of "fairy tale freaks," as Lord Farquaad would say.

Fiona, played by Eva St.Laurent, stunned the audience with her lovely, melodious singing as she sang alongside Shrek, played by Brayden Maguire, who had a rich, deep, amber-toned voice that beautifully complimented one another. Lord Farquaad, played by Kyler McRae, was well-loved by the crowd with his humorous, ironic jokes about all things short and turned heads with his grand, wacky entrance on a horse. Farquaad had a confident, flamboyant personality, expressed by McRae's body language and line delivery.

Credit also goes to Donkey, played by Katrina Pennings, who stole the spotlight away in her solo "Don't Let Me Go," with her unique voice and ability to provide emotion as she hit all the right notes. Katrina charmed the audience as the light-hearted sidekick of a guarded Shrek with her cleverly-timed, witty remarks, and overall outgoing personality. The cast ensemble wowed the crowd with their singing, elaborate costumes, and cohesive dance moves when they let their "Freak Flags" fly.

The performance's costumes were breathtakingly detailed, elaborate, and personal, elevating the fairy tale look of each character. The use of detailed props such as an animated gingerbread man, dragon head, and castle signs provided personality to the performance and tied it together. Cleverly using turntable set pieces, actors were able to change a swamp into a castle in a matter of seconds, and paired with colourful lighting, these set pieces were vast, creating depth within the setting, immersing the audience in the land of Duloc.

The live musical orchestra played enchantingly throughout the performance, sometimes overpowering the vocalists. Even with the use of microphones, at times it was difficult to hear the actors, an issue that was solved towards the end of the performance.

Leaving on a high note, Governor Simcoe took the audience back to a place of nostalgia in the world of Shrek, with peak comedy, stunning vocals, and an impressive cast and crew. Governor Simcoe put on a performance that will be remembered "Forever" at their school.

Eryn Vanderweyden
E.L. Crossley
Submitted for publication to St. Catharines Standard

Once upon a time, in a land far far away, there was a playful and whimsical musical performed by the students of Governor Simcoe Secondary School. From the swamp to the castle, Governor Simcoe's production of "Shrek The Musical" is lively, entertaining, and filled with laughs for all ages.

The comedic yet heartwarming tale follows the lonely life of the surly ogre, Shrek. When forced upon a journey to save a princess locked in a tall tower, Shrek and his hyperactive companion, Donkey, traverse the unfamiliar world, learning to embrace their peculiar selves, and perhaps even finding true love.

Simcoe set the stage with intricately detailed sets and, like a portal to another dimension, transformed the theatre into a lush forest, murky swamp, tall tower, and elegant castle in the blink of an eye. The stage crew made transitions between locations smooth and cohesive. From towering trees to stained glass windows, these gorgeous sets created an extensive and captivating experience.

The actors portrayed the developing dynamics between characters near-perfectly. The growth from tolerance to friendship between Shrek (Brayden Maguire) and Donkey (Katrina Pennings), as well as the deeply-developed connection between Shrek and Fiona (Eva St. Laurent), is an essential element of the sentimental aspect of the production. These talented young actors gracefully sold the audience on these developing relationships and connections while maintaining a fun, lighthearted, and humorous energy. Any mistakes within lines were covered with confidence and professionalism, having no impact on the overall enjoyment of the performance.

With witty lines and brilliant comedic timing, Kyler McRae, in the role of Lord Farquaad, had the audience chuckling in unison at everything from the character's appearance to his clever remarks and jokes. An unexpected comedic twist about the backstory of this cruel, self-absorbed character added laughter and excitement to the show.

The accompaniment of a live orchestra, featuring 17 different instruments, melded well with the vocal performances to capture the otherwordliness of the fairy tale.

The props displayed creativity as butterflies danced on hidden poles and a rat raced across the stage on a remote control car. Detailed signs and a cow jumping over the moon solidified the fairytale element of the production with immense originality.

With intricate sets, talented actors and vocalists, and jokes for all ages, "Shrek The Musical" is a production that everyone can enjoy. Governor Simcoe's take on the well-known tale left the audience with a heartwarming message of friendship and self-acceptance, reminding viewers that true beauty lies within.