by Megan and Shelly Wallentine
Good things come in small packages. Pickleville Playhouse, on the shores of beautiful Bear Lake, may be one of Utah’s smaller theatres, but knows how to put on a great show. One of the shows currently running in this summer theatre is Shrek the Musical, based on the 2001 DreamWorks film Shrek. Shrek the Musical has music written by Jeanine Tesori and book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire. It tells the tale of antisocial ogre Shrek (Derek Davis), who embarks on a quest with his “noble steed” Donkey (Quinn Osborne) to save the beautiful Princess Fiona (Whitley Osborn Davis) from a tower guarded by a dragon and surrounded by lava and brimstone. He doesn’t want to marry the princess, however—he’s just trying to get his swamp back from the scheming Lord Farquaad (Nathan Kremin). This musical brings several familiar fairytale characters to the stage, including Pinocchio (Nathan Sheppard), Peter Pan (Sara Sanderson), the Big Bad Wolf (Slater Ashenhurst), and more. Shrek the Musical debuted on Broadway in December 2008 and has been popular with audiences across the country ever since.
Pickleville Playhouse is a cozy theater that uses its small size to its advantage. Sometimes when attending a smaller theatre, patrons leave with the feeling of a less-than-premium experience. This is not the case at Pickleville. Rather than fight against it, the cast and crew embrace the size of their theatre and use it to engage the audience to create a more authentic experience. Pickleville is a very “audience friendly” theatre. At our performance of Shrek the Musical, they gave away a huge snow cone before the show and a T-shirt during intermission. Not only are the cast members your ushers as you arrive, they sell concessions at intermission too. Additionally, they are available outside after the show to meet the audience and take pictures, and are wonderful with the younger guests.
Shrek the Musical is directed by Derek Davis, who also plays the title role with vigor and receiving big laughs. His wife Whitley Osborn Davis as the feisty Princess Fiona was wonderful. The characters, including Julia Davis (Gingy/Fairy God Mother), Sydney Howell (Wicked Witch), Kenzie Davis (Wicked Witch), Emma Larsen (Elf), Jayden Blanch (Three Little Pigs), Kayli Checketts (Young Fiona), and Jentry Aguirre (Young Fiona) are all top notch. Although Shrek the Musical is generally performed with a cast of 25+, Pickleville does each performance with just 12 actors. That means a lot of costume changes, as each member of the ensemble performs several different roles.
Davis’s Shrek is a lovable, bumbling character with a great accent. Where he truly shines, however, are in those sweet moments where Shrek slowly and unknowingly falls in love with Fiona. Davis’s awkwardness and hesitations are very believable. (We wanted to ask Whitney, we’re curious—is that how it went when you guys were dating? He was way too good at that.) Osborn Davis’s Fiona is equally believable as she sheds the dainty, soft-spoken princess stereotype to truly command Fiona’s character. Each role is perfectly cast. I’ve always said that it’s the ensemble that makes or breaks a production. It’s not hard to get talented people to fill your lead roles, but it’s difficult to find ensemble members that truly commit 100% to their roles as well. This ensemble is outstanding, down to the body language and facial expressions every second they were onstage. No one steps out of character, not even the talented young Checketts.
The vocal talent for this production is wonderful, as is the choreography. Shrek the Musical has several unique numbers that can be difficult to produce. One that stands out is “Freak Flag”, in which the banished fairytale creatures recognize that being different isn’t a bad thing, and they should let their freak flags fly. This powerhouse number is elevated by Davis’s fantastic voice as the Fairy God Mother. Unfortunately, at times the volume level was too high and became overwhelming. This made it very difficult to hear actors at times, detracting from an otherwise splendid performance.
Shrek the Musical is known for its incredible costumes, and Pickleville does not disappoint. From Donkey’s hooves and mane to Lord Farquaad’s little legs, each and every costume is perfect down to the last detail. While the set is minimal to accommodate the small stage, it is by no means inferior. Pickleville makes use of a digital backdrop during most of the production, which allows for greater variety of visual scenes. What physical scenery they have is very professional and appropriate. With ticket prices ranging from $15-$26, this production is more than worth attending. An additional offering at this theater is the option to enjoy a full meal with your performance ticket. The Pickleville Grill is on the premises of the playhouse and patrons are encouraged to join them for an outstanding family dining experience. Grill pricing is $15 for adults and $9 for kids.
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We had an absolutely amazing time at Pickleville and recommend this show wholeheartedly. The oldest member of our party was 79 years old, but she was giggling with delight just as much as the young kids next to us. Bring your kids, bring your grandma to Pickleville’s Shrek the Musical. Fun for all at a great price.
A word of advice—to parents who are taking young children to the show, there are two moments with curse words. Shrek refers to Donkey as an—well, another word for donkey.
Pickleville Playhouse presents Shrek the Musical by David Lindsay-Abaire
Pickleville Playhouse, 2049 S Bear Lake Blvd, Garden City, UT, 84028
Wednesdays-Saturdays through September 1, 2017. Showtimes vary.
Ticket: $15-26
Contact: 435-946-2918
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