MANSFIELD – It’s been said that ogres are like onions. Not because they stink, or because they make you cry – because there is more to them than meets the eye.
The same could be said about the talent of the cast in the youth production of “Shrek: The Musical Jr.” at the Mansfield Playhouse. On the surface, the acting is great and the costumes are a delight. Then they open their mouths to sing, and start peeling the onion.
“This one just blows me away. The talent just shines,” said director Doug Wertz. “The musical talent in this area just keeps raising the bar. When you have that talent and the privilege to showcase it, it inspires us as adults.”
The show follows the same storyline as the popular DreamWorks Animation motion picture, as well as the spinoff Broadway musical. Everyone’s favorite ogre, Shrek, leads a cast of fairytale misfits on an adventure to rescue a princess and find true acceptance.
For those familiar with the movie version, “Shrek: The Musical” adds a myriad of new songs to the mix. The junior version, compared to the full Broadway version, simply shortens some of the songs and the scenes to accommodate a younger cast.
“It’s similar, but it’s not the exact same,” said Kristin Kaufman, a 13-year-old Mansfield Christian student playing Fiona. “There’s more music, and funnier lines.”
Kaufman is one of 33 youth cast members, one of the Playhouse’s larger casts. In fact, Wertz has been challenged with minimizing the set in order to fit all of the actors on stage.
“When you get all the kids on there in such great numbers, I had to shrink my set to make room for the kids,” Wertz said with a laugh.”The excitement is having the privilege to work with such talent. I’m just blown away by the hidden talents, and it’s wonderful they get to showcase that.”
One example of a hidden talent comes with Martin Rawls, who plays the lead as Shrek himself. Rawls has been involved at the Playhouse in various ensemble roles, but this is his first time as a lead.
“When you get your opportunity, you just hit cloud nine and it just grows,” Wertz said.
Music director Craig Green also praised the level of talent he’s been able to work with. He described the music of “Shrek: The Musical Jr.” as very contemporary.
“It’s not your grandparents’ Broadway,” Green said. “There’s a song that’s about burping and farting, and you don’t have that with a Rodgers & Hammerstein show. That’s going to take the audience by surprise, but they’re going to like it and the kids think it’s hysterical.”
“Shrek: The Musical Jr.” opens Friday, Oct. 21 and runs through Oct. 22, 28 and 29 at 7 p.m. and Oct. 30 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at www.mansfieldplayhouse.com or by calling the box office at 419-522-2883.
“This show is the perfect fairytale – a combination of weirdness and creativity,” Kaufman said. “You can’t not love it.”
