Review: MSMT Delights Family Audiences with SHREK Jr., The Musical

As its mainstage season draws to a close, Maine State Music Theatre presented the second of its offerings for young audiences, Shrek Jr.,The Musical, in an ambitiously staged interpretation of the 2008 David Lindsay-Abaire/Jeanine Tesori musical version of the Disneyworks film that packed Brunswick's Pickard Theatre for four performances on August 17th.

Though MSMT has always offered children's theatre as part of its summer season, this Shrek distinguishes itself in its exuberant and deliciously talented young cast, its impressive production values, and its decision to address the show to a broader family audience. To see toddlers and grandparents, the literally-young and young-at-heart all relishing the energetic performance was an absolute delight!

Dubbed Shrek Jr., The Musical because of the abbreviated version of the Broadway show, this staging by director/choreographer Raymond Marc Dumont loses none of the show's essence, charm, or message. Dumont treats the material with respect and maintains - for all the fairytale ambiance - an aura of realism and truth. Dumont strikes a brisk pace for the storytelling and stages the show's big musical numbers with his customary skill, demanding both brio and technical excellence from his dancer-singers. He takes care to have each actor invest the fairy tale characters with enough detail, sentiment, and whimsy to create interesting and amusing individual portraits.

The cast, comprised entirely of MSMT's young professionals, gives the endeavor their all and contributes a pretty impressive array of skills. Matthew West as Shrek demonstrates a sure sense of the ogre's Irish brogue, a commanding vocal presence, and a touching aura as the gentle outsider. Reagan Danel Ogle makes a regal, yet temperamental princess Fiona, elegant yet vulnerable, and she lends her strong voice and interpretive abilities to Fiona's solos. A fine dancer-singer, DeAngelo Renard is a mesmerizing Donkey - lithe, feline, endearingly earthy and amusingly streetwise. Kenneth Quinney Francoeur is an appropriately pompous, affected Lord Farquaad, who masters the physical challenges of the part (walking on his knees) with aplomb and who makes "What's Up Duloc" a highlight.

All the fairytale personages are drawn with loving detail. James Spencer Dean makes a winning Pinocchio; using a high-pitched voice and limber physicality, he perfectly embodies the "puppet-boy," and he radiates a kinetic energy - vocal, dramatic, and choreographic - that is eye-catching. Jordan Lipes (who also serves as Assistant Director) nicely differentiates his two roles as the not-so-bad wolf and the fey minister, Thelonius, and gives an appealing flourish to both parts. Stefanie Sable is a warm , engaging Mama Bear, sultry Dragonette, and snappy Duloc, as is Leah Nicoll as a big-voiced Dragonette and Duloc and a bold, brassy Wicked Witch. Sara Bond shines in a quartet of roles including a bright-voiced Little Red Riding Hood, while the trio of Little Pigs, Benjamin Henley, Cameron Wright, and Pablo Barajas, provides witty moments. Sarah Kennedy plays the trouser roles of the guard and a knight (as well as a Duloc) with authority; Samuel Allen makes an off-beat Mad Hatter; and Micaela K. Boissonneault uses her high-ranging soprano to voice a poignant Gingerbread and a piping bluebird.

The reminder of the ensemble, including the large children's contingent, all contribute to dynamic performance. The two younger Fionas, Zoe Dinnerstein (also Baby Bear) and Katherine Boston (also Peter Pan) add a bittersweet dimension to the princess' ironic "I Know It's Today" number in which she longs for a life lived happily ever after. Rounding out the cast in nicely etched cameos are Cara Kennedy (Ugly Duckling), Madelyn Rancourt (Tweedle Dee/Dwarf) Fiona Grace Edmonds (Tweedledum), Sophia Hines (White Rabbit), Jane Lipp (Fairy Godmother), and Kelsey Lemieux (Shoemaker Elf).

In addition to the strong performances, however, this Shrek benefits from a very gifted creative and young administrative team. Music Director Patrick Fanning leads the three other pit players in an ebullient reading of the score. Travis M. Grant (with wigs by Kurt Alger) adapts costume designs from the Waterville Opera House for this production, and they are as colorful and kooky as they are intricate and elaborate. Nicole Schwaninger (who is also Props Master) and Forest Horsley provide the scenic coordination, creating pieces to be used together with some elements of the mainstage Young Frankenstein set and achieving a remarkably cohesive whole. Schwaniger creates some clever props, among them Lord Farquaad's horse and the exploding bluebird. Lizzie Mahoney provides a lighting design that captures the magic of the story, while Nathan Dickson adds a soundscape that includes all the gags and special effects needed, as well as showcases the voices and pit band to advantage. Allen Wheaton serves as the able Stage Manager and Tamara Harris as Production Liaison.

Somewhere midway through the evening, the cast sings that "fairy tales should be updated." Not only is this rendition of Shrek contain a heartwarming, modern message about inclusiveness, tolerance, and acceptance of others for their inner truth and beauty, but MSMT's exceptional production demonstrates that theatre at its best is a magical, unifying experience that defies differences in age, circumstances, even viewpoints. To be present in the house and see the eyes of small children glow with an excitement that will hopefully remain with them for a long time, and to witness the blossoming of this young professional company's talents over the course of this summer season have been fairytales of a different kind- very real dreams come true for both the artists and audiences.

Photo Courtesy of MSMT

Shrek Jr., the Musical ran for four performances on August 17, 2015, at the Pickard Theatre in Brunswick, Maine. Next year's family production will be Alladin. 207-725-8769 www.msmt.org