SHS serves up humour with Shrek the Musical
By Adelle Ellis, Times Reporter
Adelle Ellis Photo
The musical, which boasts a large cast and production crew of 36 students, is sure to bring both laughs and the celebration of individualism the entire cast and audience can relate to.
“The background, story and theme are actually really beautiful … that love doesn’t have boundaries,” said Mackenzie Duggan, a Grade 11 student taking Advanced Acting 15 and who plays Pinocchio. “It’s a really beautiful story but it’s masked with funny and goofiness, it’s silly and it’s weird, but it’s a good way to get a beautiful point across.”
The one-hour 15-minute musical is not your normal fairy tale, but instead is an anti-fairy tale where instead of a beautiful princess being saved by a handsome prince charming, it is the complete opposite.
“Showing that there’s beauty in all the weirdness, I think that’s what’s going to be fun about it; it shows that you don’t have to be Prince Charming to be the one who marries the beautiful princess and find happiness,” said Ryerson Rushford, a Grade 11 student in Drama 20 who plays Donkey and describes performing in Shrek as unnaturally natural.
Students noted the performance is a different type of musical than they usually put on, and it’s the first time this musical has been performed at the school. Some actors remarked they like that the story is a little bit odd and goofy as it is something people don’t expect, which enables the actors to push the boundaries for what’s going to happen to make the show exciting for the audience.
Each major role is double or triple cast so that more students get the opportunity to learn to practice and play a major role. Because of this, every showing is a little different from the next due to the casting changes and the way each actor portrays their character and feeds off of their co-characters.
“These kids are so amazing, there’s some very talented kids that blow me away … they own it,” said Deanne Bertsch, who teaches the class.
She noted this musical is the perfect design for celebrating everyone and their unique qualities, and she said she is proud of how that comes across with each student’s acting.
“The humour is my favourite for sure, it lifts me up every day. It also has a wonderful story of being proud of who you are and how all of our unique qualities are good things, not bad things. There’s this big song called ‘Let your freak flag fly’; we’re all freaks in our own way and that’s something to celebrate and not be ashamed of – I hope that idea is what the audience is left with,” said Bertsch.
Every aspect of the musical is student run, from the actors, hair and makeup, costume design, lights and sound, the stage manager and even sometimes directing themselves. This year, several students also choreographed the dance routines.
“I think (the audience) is going to feel things and see themes they didn’t think they would … they can expect the silly and the funny and the goofy, but also a beautiful underlying message,” said Duggan. “I think it will be a pleasant surprise.”
The show runs at the SHS auditorium on June 2, 3, 4 and 6. Showtime is 7 p.m. and the $10 tickets are available at the door or by pre-order by calling 403-821-3203.