Lake Country Players will present 'Shrek, the Musical'

WATKINS GLEN--The Lake Country Players will present "Shrek, the Musical" Nov. 9 and 10 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday Nov. 11 at 2:30 p.m. at the Watkins Glen high school auditorium. More than 40 community members are included in this show directed by Casey Manzer Smith, with musical direction by Kim Laursen and Sarah Mathews. The story is a fairy tale within a fairy tale which all begins Once upon a time, when young ogre Shrek (Collin McKenzie) is sent away by his parents (Phil Watson, Jen Kintz) at the tender age of 7 to find his way in the Big Bright Beautiful World. Young Fiona (Kylie Downing) finds herself in the same position as her royal parents (Melissa and Matt Norton) place her in a tower to await her true love's arrival....on day number 8,423 of her confinement.
Meanwhile, the evil (and very short) Lord Farquaad (Anthony Curren) in his efforts to create his perfect kingdom in Duloc--as described with the choreography of Kelsey Johnson by the Duloc Dancers--banishes all of the "freaky" fairytale characters to live in the smelly, awful swamp where the mature ogre Shrek (Alex Gill) makes his home. When his solitary home is invaded by Humpty, Pinocchio, Big Bad Wolf, the fairies, witches, Gingerbread man, et. al., Shrek goes to talk with Lord Farquaad about the situation, and strikes a bargain that the ogre will go rescue the mature Princess Fiona (Melissa Neufer) from her tower so that the evil Lord can marry her and have a queen, thereby becoming a genuine King. In return, Farquaad will give Shrek his swamp back.
Shrek is joined on his quest by his new friend, Donkey (Rhys Stermer), who is much too talkative and very annoying to the ogre. When Shrek encounters the Dragon (Amy Issett) who guards the Princess' tower, Donkey actually becomes the Dragon's love interest so that Shrek can rescue the Princess and take her back to Duloc. On the way to meet her prospective husband, Lord Farquaad, we learn that the Princess is a beauty by day, and turns into a green ogre by night (Jen Kintz) due to a spell cast long ago by a witch. Nevertheless, Shrek and the Princess get to know one another and a romantic friendship develops. Will the Princess actually marry evil Lord Farquaad or will there be a fairytale ending to this rollicking musical production?
Dani Rumsey, Odessa math teacher, has organized the building of the sets, and Sue Larson, Judy Fitcha and Kim Hurley are busy creating costumes for this large cast. Business manager Lorry Johnson will have tickets for sale at the door--$10 adult, $8 senior and student, under 5 free.