Shrek

Last weekend we enjoyed all the highs of another performance!  Shrek was Delia's 12th show.  She's had some amazing Drama experiences: getting the lead role, acting with her sister and best friends, playing iconic roles in iconic stories, and getting to sing and dance in some super catchy numbers...but this show was by far her favorite.  There was not a moment of it that she did not love and was not having an absolute blast!  It was such a FUN show, full of crazy characters and big comedy.  But, it was the cast that made this one awesome for Delia.  

  

When Shrek was announced last year, everyone assumed that veteran and senior Delia would be going for and maybe get the Fiona role.  But she never wanted it!  After playing the bride last year, Delia knew the pressure of a lead and just wanted to sing and dance in all the fun ensemble numbers for this one.  She got the perfect part, Ugly Duckling, which had a few cute lines and solos and the best costume!  Our director also gave Delia the special responsibility of being the Dance Captain-- the person who reviewed the choreography at practices and kept on eye on making sure everything looked clean and synchronized.  I think Delia did a great job!  The dancing in this show was some of the best we've seen!

Delia's costume was a legit ballet gown that someone donated and one of our talented seamstresses sewed feathers on.  She loved and felt so fun tiptoeing around in Ballet Swan/Ugly Duckling character!

Shrek has this cast of Fairy Tale Creatures that sing some of the most fun songs.  We meet them right away after they are evicted from their homes and banished to the swamp.  They sing Story of My Life about all their many woes, from being labeled a "Fashion mess because I wear a granny dress" (Big Bad Wolf) to having their hat ridiculed (Peter Pan).  

Shrek is their only hope for getting their homes back. He's big and scary and he can talk to the bad guy, Lord Farquad.

After a quick costume change, Delia is back on stage as one of the identical Duloc's singing Farquad's silly song of conformity.  Can you spot her? ;)

Lord Farquad in his rented costume with the itty bitty legs was HILARIOUS!  He performed the whole show on his knees for our amusement.  Such a great sight gag.

The middle of the show is Delia-less, but not without awesomeness!  We meet dorky, but lovable Fiona.  She is rescued from her dragon-guarded tower.  Donkey, Shrek and Fiona get to know each other as they journey back to Duloc.  When Shrek misunderstands something he overhears Fiona saying about ogres being hideous, unlovable beasts (she was talking about herself), he leaves dejected.  The Fairy Tale Creatures come back to reassure him that what makes him different makes him strong in the song Freak Flag.  In this song each character reveals their own weakness to show we all have them.  Delia has one of my favorite lines here-- "I live in constant doubt!" delivered with a huge smile and cheerleader jump.

Fiona and Shrek share a kiss, but it is her ogre form, not her princess form, that true love has turned her into.  Shrek assures her she is beautiful and the show ends with the goosebumpy song This is our Story.  My favorite "We are different, but united.  You are us and we are you" line reminding us that we all have parts that make us feel different and unlovable, but we, and those around us, are actually created exactly right.  This is a silly story with a powerful message wrapped in it.  Our director did a great job each night of explaining their attempt to tell, not the world's story of acceptance for your personal choice of sin that makes you different, but instead a story of loving who God created you to be and inviting everyone to belong. 

Our beautiful swan takes her bow, a sweeping ballet bow she was excited fit her character, as the high energy song I'm a Believer blasts.  This cast got 3 standing ovations for their 4 shows!  It was SO well performed and had a mix of both big laugh-out-loud and tear-jerking scenes.    

By Saturday night, the crowd didn't just stand, we were all dancing along too!  Since Drama has long been Delia's favorite part of school, how wonderful that she begins her exit from this stage singing and dancing her heart out with what's been her favorite cast in her favorite show!  

There was a recording made and its pretty good quality.  Let me know if you want the link to watch!