'Shrek' embraces the inner ogre

Once upon a time, in a swamp far away, there lived a green ogre. . . Sound familiar? In Ridley High School's fantastic production of Shrek the Musical, this lovable tale was brought to the stage.

Based on the DreamWorks film Shrek, the original Broadway production of Shrek the Musical opened in December 2008. The show takes the audience through the classic story of Shrek and Donkey's journey to rescue Princess Fiona so Lord Farquaad can marry her. Along the way, they encounter some fairy tale creatures including Pinocchio, the Three Little Pigs, and the Fairy Godmother. The show also explains the backgrounds and childhoods of Shrek, Fiona, and even the farcical Lord Farquaad. It teaches the timeless lesson that one should get to know a person based on who they are, not what they look like.

Vince Long, who played the role of Shrek in this production, should be commended for his phenomenal ogre performance. He nailed his Shrek accent and gave a strong vocal performance as well. Amanda Daly was also remarkable in her solid portrayal of the head-strong Fiona. Kyleigh Bleacher,the voice of the dragon, blew the audience away with her powerful vocals in the song "Forever." Lord Farquaad, played by Jake Mergott, was a crowd favorite. Walking on his knees throughout the entire show, Mergott was hilarious in his performance as the tiny but sassy ruler. The audience couldn't help but to cry with laughter whenever he was onstage.

A lively crew of fairy tale creatures amused the audience with their ridiculous banter and catchy songs. Each different character displayed distinct qualities and brought something new to the show. Gabrielle Impriano was notable for her spirited performance as the Sugar Plum Fairy/Gingy. The Rat Tappers also performed a cheery tap dance in "Morning Person." The cast as a whole had a high energy level that never seemed to drop.

The costumes used in the production were exceptional. The fairy tale creatures each had their own colorful costume and makeup to help portray their character. Face paint was used to make Shrek green and create Donkey's face. Many beautiful set pieces, including two large storybooks and Fiona's Tower, were used in the show. The stage crew did a nice job moving around the set pieces and helping the performance run smoothly with its technical elements.

The audience was highly entertained throughout the entire performance. The cast turned a familiar and charming tale into an exceptional performance that everyone could enjoy. This show helped everyone embrace their inner-ogre and let their "freak flag fly!"