Ogres, fairytales and more: Embassy Creek Elementary takes on “Shrek Jr.”

BY DANIEL RAKOWER AND ANNABELLE ROSA

“Shrek” (2001) is a movie that has come to be representative of childhood for many individuals born in the 1990s and 2000s. In 2008, the movie was transformed into a musical that reintroduced the plotline of the first film in the franchise. The show incorporates the original story and characters in a new medium. Several of the songs are comical and enticing, a few of the most intriguing pieces being “I know it’s today” sung by Fiona, “Story of my life” sung by Pinocchio and various other beloved Fairytale characters, “Freak Flag” sung by the ensemble, and “Big Bright Beautiful World” sung by the whole cast.

The show also integrates several technical aspects including complex makeup design, costumes, and set pieces. The majority of the set has to change from scene to scene which can be rather difficult to complete in a timely fashion. One of the most complex set pieces in the show is the dragon which has taken on several forms in various productions (i.e. large puppets or oversized set pieces that move on and off of the stage).

The show also integrates several technical aspects including complex makeup design, costumes, and set pieces.

Embassy Creek Elementary recently began working on “Shrek: The Musical,” boasting a large and talented cast as well as a clever and innovative set for such a young group. With several parent and student volunteers, the production had begun rehearsals in the Cooper City High School auditorium this past week.

This production was open from Thursday, May 3 until Friday, May 4. Considering the fact that the show’s cast was incredibly young, they showed great maturity for their age and the performance they put on certainly reflected it.

The show opens on young Shrek being ousted from his home by his parents (portrayed by Baylee Chang and Brody Coffin) as they sing the song “Fare Thee Well Young Ogre,” during which the audience can see where Shrek adopts his disillusionment with the outside world.

This creates a rather clever form of character development that Ehrlich carried out with grace.

The next song in the queue was “Big Bright Beautiful World” sung by Joey Ehrlich, who portrayed [the adult] Shrek. The song discusses his aforementioned ideology and is later reprised when he discovers his humanity after falling in love with the female lead, Fiona (played by Juliana Del Castillo-Bensik). This creates a rather clever form of character development that Ehrlich carried out with grace.

After the audience was introduced to Ehrlich, the story shifts to talk about Fiona’s woes as she waits to be whisked away from her tower by “Prince Charming.” This plotline is carried by the song “I Know It’s Today” which is sung by young Fiona (Samantha Muller) and teen Fiona (Ava Warburton).

The story is one that focuses on the concept of individuality, something that is incredibly significant for students of this age bracket.

Comedic relief was provided by Donkey (Emilee Comess) and Lord Farquaad (Seth Greenblatt), while a darker tone was introduced by the Dragon (Sydney Muller) who was portrayed as a villainous creature who was forced to watch over Fiona despite the fact that she simply wished to be saved herself.

The story is one that focuses on the concept of individuality, something that is incredibly significant for students of this age bracket.

The makeup design for the show was also incredibly clever and completed by student volunteers Abbie Sachs, Odette Barcelo, Reece Suarez, Cayla Sullivan and Amanda Mulvaney.

In regards to the technical aspects of the show, there was a complex set that incorporated basic features of a forest (i.e. tree stumps and trees) into the stage’s general landscape, though the greatest accomplishment of this particular category would be Fiona’s tower which was pushed on and off stage and was rotated in order to show the balcony and her actual room.

The makeup design for the show was also incredibly clever and completed by student volunteers Abbie Sachs, Odette Barcelo, Reece Suarez, Cayla Sullivan and Amanda Mulvaney. This crew also included various other high school volunteers who aided with hair and costume changes.

Photo by Sarah Khan