By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
The freak flag is flying high in the Maumee Indoor Theatre again, thanks to 3B Productions.
Shrek (Jake Drouillard) demands the return of his swamp from Lord Farquaad (Matthew D. Badyna).
The company is bringing the fairy tale musical, based on the hit animated film itself inspired by William Stieg’s picture book, back just four years after last staging it.
The show’s charms are undeniable — a twisted love story with a fairytale backdrop and an uplifting message about accepting oneself. Not to mention a love-besotted dragon.
“Shrek the Musical” will be on stage at the Maumee Indoor Theatre this weekend Oct. 18-21 with shows Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. matinees Saturday and Sunday. Contact 3Bproductions.org for tickets.
The three Fionas: Young Fionas: From left, Maggie Titus, Jennifer Braun, and Evie Van Vorhis.
This “Shrek” hits the mark in several important ways. To me, the show’s big challenge is to take on the leads as real characters not simply the comic projections of the actors in the beloved animated film. Jake Drouillard as the title character, Dylan Coale as his sidekick Donkey, Jennifer Braun as Princess Fiona, and Matthew D. Badyna as the evil Lord Farquaad all understand this, and bring their characters to life in a fresh way that remains true to the script.
Drouillard makes sure Shrek’s lovable layers are evident from the start. Coale’s Donkey is more level-headed for all his hysterics. Braun’s inner ogre shades her whole performance. Even when she’s trying to play out the standard damsel in distress script, she insists on being in charge.
Badyna, acting as the part requires on his knees, plays up the comedy as the scheming lord. And you have to love the nod to “The Producers” in the production number “What’s Up Duloc.”
Jake Drouillard as Shrek
All this comes through because their enunciation of witty lyrics is clear. They deliver the comic and emotional nuances embedded in the songs.
Special mention should be made of Chloe Smallwood who provides the voice of the dragon. A lot goes on in her big scene. Her vocal has to compete with an antic Donkey being pursued the dragon — the creation of Hannah Kinney for 3B’s 2014 show and the go-to dragon for other area “Shrek” productions.
Stationed apart from all this, Smallwood delivers the dragon’s soaring internal monologue about what’s really on her mind. She’s in love with Donkey. Smallwood’s voice cuts through all the stage business to set up that important emotional twist.
The show’s popularity also rests on the large cast, including a host of fairy tale creatures, each with a personality and back story.
Gingy (Cayla Kale) and Pinocchio (Bob Marzola-Hughes) debate whether to confront Lord Farquaad.
The climatic “Freak Flag” is a rousing anthem — “what makes us different makes us strong.”
Pinocchio (Bob Marzola-Hughes), who struggles with his own identity crisis, debates whether they should just retreat while the Gingy (Cayla Kale) argues for rebellion.
One can feel the collective energy of the story book characters as they decide to confront Lord Farquaad over his campaign of fairy-tale cleansing.
Unlike them the diminutive Farquaad — the son of Grumpy (Zack Hubaker) of the Seven Dwarfs — wants to deny his special qualities and instead wants stand tall among “normal” folk.
The production team opted to use projected backdrops for most of the scenery, with only a very few select set pieces. That means the show moves along with little time between scene changes.
The show, directed by Joe Barton with music direction by Janine Baughman and choreography by Marzola, flows smoothly right through the curtain version of “I’m a Believer.”
The audience will be left believing this reprise of “Shrek” was the right move.
