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| Steven Enriquez, Addison Bowman, and Brach Drew photo by Cliff Cesar |
Click here for more information on this production that runs through August 27th.
"Valley Youth Theatre's production of the musical Shrek is a perfect example of how incredibly high the level of youth talent is in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Not only are the four leads exceptional, but the ensemble members also create well-honed comical characters full of humor. With the addition of succinct direction and beautiful creative elements, Shrek amounts to a big summer hit for VYT.
..While Shrek may not have been that successful on Broadway, running just over a year, and some of the songs are just average, it has proven to be perfect material for regional and youth theatres...Director Bobb Cooper has found a large, talented cast of teenagers who all deliver superb portrayals as they bring the familiar characters from the film to comical life. As Shrek, Steven Enriquez has a great comical Scottish accent, which is constant throughout, and strong vocal chops. He portrays Shrek with the right balance of charm, agitation and menace...Addison Bowman is a firecracker full of sass as Princess Fiona. Her singing voice is terrific as are her comic abilities. ...Enriquez and Bowman deliver refined performances that allow us to not only experience their characters' journeys but also root for their success. As Donkey, Brach Drew is splendid. His refined comic delivery, exaggerated facial expressions, and funny body posture make for an excellent performance as the non-stop talking character. Jared Barbee is equally good as Lord Farquaad. ...with a great singing voice, embellished gestures, and wicked comic timing, he is an absolute hoot. ...Cooper does a fairly good job...ensuring that both the comical and emotional moments land. Nathalie Velasquez's choreography is comical and varied...Mark Fearey's music direction and conducting of the 21-piece orchestra is exceptional....Karol Cooper's colorful costumes are exceptional and filled with fun and exaggerated cartoon and fantasy elements. Daniel Davisson's lighting design creates some lovely stage images filled with dark shadows and pops of color.
Although there are a few drawbacks in the score and the plot is basically a step by step retread of the film, the abundance of hilarious moments make for an enjoyable musical. With an incredibly talented cast, excellent costumes, and very good direction, VYT's Shrek is a whacky and fun show that also has a positive message about being yourself and how beauty comes in all shapes and sizes.. " -Gil Benbrook, Talkin' Broadway (click here to read the complete review)
"...the opening night performance of Shrek The Musical was delivered with an unflagging energy that ultimately proved irresistible. Performed by a new, attractive ensemble of talent..the show’s intention was always to be nothing more than brash, candy-coated entertainment...production values are high, a continual reminder that what you’re witnessing is as removed from a high-school performance as any other professional production in the valley, despite the youth of the talent. ..with atmospheric lighting, clever scenic designs, plus steam shooting up from near the orchestra pit representing a river of boiling lava below, the visual effects of a fairy tale world remain hugely effective. Particularly eye-catching is the oversized dragon, operated by several young puppeteers. ...the essence of the character’s colorful presence is made all the better by the powerful vocals of Emily Bowlby, giving voice to the dragon’s song, "Forever"...The large cast of fairy tale creatures and the colorful citizens of Duloc, with their colorful costumes and their sharp, tightly performed song and dance numbers, give excellent support to the overall production....director Cooper has once again cast four great, new talents as principle leads. Steven Enriquez...is... impressive as Shrek. He may be hidden under layers of green makeup with a bald head, a fake, fat nose and bulbous belly stuffing, but his personality shines. When Shrek mistakenly believes he’s unloved by the princess, Enriquez’s convincing sense of rejection can’t help but make you feel genuinely sorry for him. As the motor-mouthed Donkey, ...Brach Drew avoids imitation and makes the character his own. ...Whoever plays the slight of stature Lord Faquaad automatically benefits from the hilarious sight of short, artificial legs while scampering around the stage on his knees...with comical facial expressions and a keen sense of cartoonish malevolence, Jared Barbee’s individual interpretation is laugh-out-loud funny. ...
But the center of attention by sheer energy alone is Addison Bowman as Princess Fiona. ..With comical timing, an added level of muscular power behind her movements, a large dose of sass, and a great voice to boot, Addison steals the show. Her song, "I Know It’s Today," sung from the balcony of the tower where she’s imprisoned with a young Fiona (Olivia Fearey) and a teen Fiona (Abby Cardenas) is a production highlight." -David Appleford, Valley Screen and Stage (click here to read the complete review)
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