Review: Shrek the Musical at Dundalk Community Theatre

Posted on May 3, 2017 by Jason

By Jason Crawford Samios-Uy

Running Time: 2 hours and 45 minutes with one 15-minute intermission
Lately, within the last few years, either fortunately or unfortunately, a plethora of “new” musicals to hit the scene have been based on Hollywood films. There have been some doozies such as Ghost or The Toxic Avenger and even Evil Dead the Musical (which I actually adore… hey, we all have our vices) but, with that said, some actually lend well to the stage such as Hairspray, The Bodyguard, Anastasia, Newsies, and the like and Dundalk Community Theatre’s latest offering, Shrek the Musical, based on the Dream Works Animation Motion picture and the book by William Steig, with Music by Jeanine Tesori and Book & Lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire Directed by John Desmone, with Music Direction by Nathan Christover Scavilla, and Choreography by Vincent Musgrave, is one of those that actually transfers nicely to the stage and fun for the entire family.

Gary Dieter, Dickie Mahoney, Sherry Benedek, and Peter N. Crews. Credit: DCT

In a nutshell, the story goes something like this: A bunch of fairy tale characters are banished from the town of Duloc by the Napoleon complex-ridden Lord Farquaad and they end up in the swamp that is already inhabited by a big green, solitary ogre, Shrek, and he wants nothing to do with any of it. To get them all off his claimed land, he goes to Duloc to try and reason with Lord Farquaad but along the way, Shrek meets and saves Donkey, a talking donkey, who is being chased by Lord Farquaad’s guards. Donkey takes a shine to Shrek and sticks to him like glue. Once in Duloc, Farquaad agrees to officially deed the land over to Shrek, but in return, sends Shrek on a mission, of sorts, to rescue Princess Fiona, who has been locked up in a tower for about 20 years, guarded by a fire-breathing dragon. Farquaad plans to marry Princess Fiona to rise in the ranks of monarchy and become a king. Shrek and Donkey succeed and escort Princess Fiona back to Duloc and along the way, something sparks between the princess and the Ogre, but Fiona is hiding a deep, dark secret and she wants to keep it that way. The princess is delivered to Lord Farquaad but, as in all good stories, there’s a twist that you’ll have to see, if you don’t know it already, that is.
Set Design by Marc W. Smith is simple, yet quite appropriate on this one. Being familiar with Smiths outstanding design work, he seems to have toned it down a bit for this production using backdrops and cutouts as opposed to his usual original complex and detailed design and construction. This isn’t to say the Set Design wasn’t amazing, because it was very polished with professional backdrops from Kenmark Scenic Backdrops that flew in and out with ease.

Dickie Mahoney, Peter N. Crews, and Gary Dieter. Credit: DCT

Costumes for a show like this can be challenging and downright difficult but Costume Design by Tracy Bird is spot on as all the fairy tale characters have appropriate wardrobes and each is easily distinguishable. Shrek, Donkey, Fiona, and Farquaad have near perfect wardrobes and each fairy tale character has his or her own unique look making for a vast and quite impressive Costume Design by Bird.
Vincent Musgrave hits the nail on the proverbial head with his choreography, especially for certain numbers such as “What’s Up Duloc?” and “Morning Person” and for as enthralling as these numbers were, dance-wise (and they were amazing… the ensemble members included in these numbers are on point!), it feels as though so much concentration was put into these couple of numbers that the others were a bit looser. Regardless, overall, the choreography is tight and the ensemble is dedicated and well-rehearsed giving 100% to each number.

Dickey Mahoney as Shrek and Sherry Benedek as Fiona. Credit: DCT

Musically, this production is top notch and Music Direction by Nathan Christopher Scavilla is absolutely on point. He already has an extremely able ensemble to work with so all the numbers were strong and confident. The pit orchestra is flawless in their efforts and though they are not listed in the program, I highly suggest an insert thrown in with all their names because this orchestra is well-rehearsed and polished, sounding like a CD playing or a professional Broadway theatre orchestra. Kudos to Scavilla for getting together such a great sounding orchestra and getting his cast to sound near perfect and in harmony in every number.
Baltimore theatre veteran John Desmone takes the helm of this production and his Direction stays true to the film almost everyone knows but still manages to put his mark on it and express his vision of acceptance, tolerance, and self discovery. Knowing a little bit of the history of Shrek the Musical in Baltimore theatre, I’m aware that the actors portraying Shrek and Donkey have a history playing the roles, opposite each other, in several other productions and it seems Desmone may have depended on that history a bit and left Shrek and Donkey to their own devices but it didn’t hinder the production value a lot. He tells the story in a well-cast, well-thought out production guiding this talented cast to a very entertaining and fun production.

Peter N. Crews as Lord Farquaad. Credit: DCT

Peter N. Crews takes on the role of Lord Farquaad, the small minded and statured villain of the story and, anyone who tackles this role has my applause and ovation because, physically, I couldn’t imagine spending an entire show crawling around on my knees. It may be easier than it looks, but, still… Crews has a good grasp of this character and gives an admirable performance but it falls a little flat. His portrayal seems a little more whiney than angry, though it could be a directorial choice. Vocally, Crews is OK and holds his own in numbers such as “What’s Up Duloc?” and “Ballad of Farquaad.” Overall, he gives a confident performance and, like I said, anyone who takes on this crazy role has my kudos for his bravery and physical prowess.

Gary Dieter as Donkey. Credit: DCT

Gary Dieter tackles the challenging role of the chatty, expert one-liner, loyal friend Donkey, who doesn’t leave Shrek’s side once they meet. Dieter is a terrific showman and absolutely makes this role his own and doesn’t give a carbon copy of the uber-successful portrayal Eddie Murphy gave in the film and he has my utmost respect and admiration for that aspect of his portrayal. He understands his audience and the audience loves him. However, though his asides and ad libs had the audiences eating out of his hands, I would have preferred he pulled it back a bit as it seems he’s trying too hard for the laugh. Again, the audience adores him and he had them laughing in the isles so, maybe it’s just me. Dieter is an accomplished dancer, but in this role dancing isn’t really showcased and his vocals are commendable in his featured numbers “Don’t Let Me Go” and the soulful “Make a Move,” in which he is accompanied by the titillating 3 Blind Mice (beautifully played by Lacy Comstock, Emily Morgan, and Sydney Phipps). Overall, his comprehension of the story and his character is apparent and he has a great command of the stage making for a strong, confident performance.

Dickie Mahoney as Shrek. Credit: DCT

Taking on the titular character of Shrek, Dickie Mahoney hits the ground running with this role. As stated before, Mahoney has a history with this character and he’s comfortable and confident in his portrayal. He gives us a brilliant portrayal but, at times, it seems he is going through the motions, but after performing the role so many times, it’s somewhat understandable and the audience, en masse, doesn’t seem to mind. He, too, makes the part his own and does not give us a copy of the Mike Meyers portrayal of the big green ogre and it’s refreshing to see. Vocally, Mahoney has a commanding smooth, clear voice that resonates throughout the theatre making the songs like “Bright Big Beautiful World,” “I Think I Got You Beat,” and the poignant “When Words Fail” sound effortless. He does utilize the Irish/Welsh/Scottish accent always associated with this character and he does lose it slightly every now and again, but all things considered, he’s got it down pat. Overall, Mahoney gives a praiseworthy performance that is filled with heart and dedication that is a joy to watch.
Two standouts in this production are Sherry Benedeck as Princess Fiona and Lisa Pastella as the Voice of Dragon who belt their way through songs and take command of not only the stage, but of the entire theatre.

Sherry Benedek as Fiona. Credit: DCT

Sherry Benedek as Princess Fiona is a powerhouse. She’s a triple threat, taking the role and putting her own twist on it, making it original and vocally, she is a powerhouse. I found myself absolutely enthralled in her singing in numbers such as “I Know It’s Today” (with the younger Fionas, Juliet Jones and Anna Adelstein, who both hold their own and blend nicely with Benedek) and “Morning Song” in which she gets a chance to show us her brilliant dancing/tapping abilities. Benedek is a joy to watch and I’m looking forward to seeing more from this actress.
Dragon, though a puppet, needs a heart and soul and Lisa Pastella gives her just that. We don’t see Pastella (except when she’s scurrying around as The Wicket Witch with the ensemble), but with her featured number, the soulful, heartfelt “Forever,” I didn’t need to see her because he voice did it for me. Vocally, she is crystal clear, smooth, and hits every note flawlessly making for an exciting and powerful performance.

Gingy and Lord Farquaad. Credit: DCT

The entire ensemble works well together and seem to be having a great time up on the stage together. Featured characters like the fed up activist, Pinocchio (Josh Schoff), The Big Bad Wolf in drag (Mark Lloyd), The Three Bears (Stacey Bonds, Vincent Musgrave, Sarah Jones) and, who could forget poor wounded/cracked Gingy (Veronica Lockett) round out the cast nicely and the actors bring an updated feel and humor to them, as required by the story. All around, the entire cast of this show deserves kudos for their dedication and effort for their outstanding chemistry and giving 100% to this production.
Final thought… Shrek: The Musical at Dundalk Community Theatre is a family friendly romp peppered slyly with a few adult-oriented jokes to keep it interesting, with fabulous voices, exciting choreography, colorful and fun costumes, and a stage full of familiar and new fairy tale characters that will keep you entertained and engaged throughout the evening. Beyond the great production value, the important message of this piece, which is acceptance, not only of others, but of yourself, is what you should take home. The performances are strong and confident and the entire ensemble works quite well together making for a charming, enjoyable, and toe-tapping evening of theatre that should not be missed!
This is what I thought of Dundalk Community Theatre’s production of Shrek the Musical… What did you think? Please feel free to leave a comment!
Shrek the Musical will play through May 7 at Dundalk Community Theatre, The Ravekes Theatre, CCBC Dundalk, 7200 Sollers Point Road, Dundalk, MD. For Tickets, call the box office at 443-840-2787 or purchase them online.
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Review: I Hate Hamlet at Dundalk Community Theatre

Posted on March 1, 2017 by Jason

By Jason Crawford Samios-Uy

Running Time: 2 hours with one 15-minute intermission
Some of the Baltimore theatre community are going through “A Year of Shakespeare,” producing the Great Bard’s plays or works based on his writing. Dundalk Community Theatre’s latest piece, I Hate Hamlet by Paul Rudnick, Directed by Tom Colonna, with Set Design by Marc W. Smith, and Costume Design by James J. Fasching and Eva Grove is just right if you’re looking for a piece that’s not too heavy but has enough substance to help you learn a little something about a legendary actor of stage and screen and Hamlet, the play by William Shakespeare.
I Hate Hamlet is set John Barrymore’s actual New York City apartment and focuses on Andrew Rally, a successful television actor who is on the horns of a dilemma as he takes on the dream role of Hamlet. All the while, he’s struggling with a girlfriend who’s not budging on her chastity. The ghost of John Barrymore shows up only to convince Rally he’s good enough for the role of Hamlet and can’t go back to the other side until he does. Just as Barrymore has convinced Andrew he’s worthy of the role, his West Coast director friend shows up offering a role in a television pilot and a hefty salary and guaranteed fame to go along with it. Which will he choose? Shakespeare, which arguably makes him a real actor and a project his girlfriend loves, or TV, where he can have fame and fortune?
This is a bit of a biographical play as it gives you a little insight into the life of actor John Barrymore and how he felt about the role of Hamlet and, as a bonus, it explains the character of Hamlet a little to give us a better understanding of the poor fellow who asks the age old question of “to be or not to be.”
Set Design from Marc W. Smith is, in a word, stunning. Smith, who has been designing for the Dundalk Community Stage for many years, absolutely knows every square inch of his stage like the back of his hand and his designs express his knowledge. The authenticity shines through in this set and his use of levels and matching just the right set piece or piece of furniture to compliment the piece is superb and his attention to detail makes for impressive, thoughtful work.
Costume Design by James J. Fasching and Eva Grove is subtle but appropriate for the “living” cast and each character has his or her own unique look from the flashy New York real estate agent to the quirky girlfriend, to the West Coast director, and even John Barrymore himself, who happens to be in costume for Hamlet. Fasching and Grove do a fantastic job costuming these characters with a well thought-out, unassuming wardrobe that the actors seem to be comfortable wearing.
Director Tom Colonna looks to have taken the traditional route with this production (though there’s not really an alternative to the traditional) and he keeps the story moving along. His vision is a bit dicey as I couldn’t decipher if this show is about Andrew, the rising star or John Barrymore, the legendary star, but either way, the simple message of “believe in yourself” is somewhat clear, if you look close enough. The casting is a bit curious as the balance between Thomas “Toby” Hessenaauer’s confident performance as John Barrymore and Charlie Lidard’s shaky performance as Andrew heavily teeters on the uneven. Just as the pairing of Jennifer Skarzinski’s brilliant and funny portrayal of Felicia to Phil Vannoorbeeck’s inconsistent attempt at Gary. Overall, Colonna does a good job moving the story along, but some of the jokes (or what I think are jokes) are glazed over. For instance, since there’s a supernatural theme to this piece a lot of sound effects were used to portray supernatural happenings, like when a character feels a cold chill that is Barrymore standing behind them waving his hand around the back of their neck. Aside from looking a little corny, the actor’s reactions weren’t big enough and the bit kind of just fell to the wayside. It’s a quirky piece, as it is and a challenge for any director so aside from some minor casting choices, Colonna does admirable job with the piece, in general.
The small ensemble of this piece work very well together and are natural enough to be believable. The characters are individuals and the actors do a great job tackling their roles, overall.
Phil Vannoorbeeck as takes on the role of Gary, the fast talking West Coast director. Now, I think I see what Vannoorbeeck was going for, and he gives 100% to his performance, but it just falls a little flat for me. He seems to overcompensate the carefree personality of his character and comes off as unauthentic. There are times when he keeps the pace up and then he falters and slows down to be not so fast talking. He might want to work on his consistency throughout the piece because he goes from being likable to be a complete ass and I’m not sure whether to grab him by the scruff of the neck and throw him out for being an ass or go and have a beer with him! However, that’s not to say Vannoorbeeck didn’t do a good job because his performance was quite appropriate and like I stated, he gives a great effort and works well with his fellow ensemble members.
Charlie Lidard takes on the role of Andrew, the up and coming television star who, whether he likes it or not, is getting help from the ghost of the legendary John Barrymore. All in all, Lidard does a great job with this role, but he just couldn’t keep my interest for very long. He has a great look for the part but seems scripted and unnatural at times. He works well with his cast mates and his chemistry with them (especially Morgan and Hessenauer) is giving his all, which is absolutely commendable, but perhaps it’s just a weak written character.
Tackling the role of sweet Deidre, the flighty good-natured, naïve girlfriend who holds tightly to her chastity, driving her boyfriend crazy is Emily Morgan. Morgan shines in this role. She plays the role with an authentic sweetness that it almost gives you diabetes and her confidence allows her to make good character choices. She’s comfortable and she gives the character just enough whispiness mixed with compassion to give an authentic, entertaining performance.
Regina Rose as Lillian, the elderly, wise agent to Andrew plays this character very well. Rose’s accent is spot on and fits the character perfectly and she understands the comedy of this piece and her character, not taking it too seriously. She gives a strong, confident performance with a good command of the stage and it’s a joy to watch.
As Felicia, the New York real estate agent, Jennifer Skarzinski is an absolute and undoubted highlight in this piece. She has a fantastic sense of comedy and her timing is on point, every time! Even though a couple of her great one-liners fell on deaf audience ears, she kept it going strong and didn’t falter once. Her stereotypical “New York” accent was spot on and worked well for the character add to the authenticity. Skarzinski gives a natural and comfortable performance giving 110% effort making for an absolutely superb performance.
Thomas “Toby” Hessenauer as the late, great John Barrymore is a standout in this production. He has a great command of the stage, a great comedic timing, and has a clear and bold voice adding to his near flawless performance. Tackling a biographical role has its own set of challenges but Hessenauer, a Baltimore theatre veteran, seems to really understand John Barrymore and is comfortable in this role, giving an excellent performance.
Final thought…I Hate Hamlet at Dundalk Community Theatre is a light, fluffy piece that doesn’t seem to have much of a message (that I took away) other than, perhaps, the cliché of “have faith in yourself and you can do things beyond what you think you can do” but it is a well-presented and, for the most part, well performed piece that has some great one-liners and moves along nicely. Whether you’re unfamiliar with John Barrymore and the work of William Shakespeare or a fan, you’ll enjoy this piece as touches on not only Barrymore’s professional life, but his private, personal side, also, and gives a little insight to this legendary actor, as well as enlightening the audience on the character Hamlet and the play in general.
This is what I thought of Dundalk Community Theatre’s production of I Hate Hamlet… What did you think? Please feel free to leave a comment!
I Hate Hamlet will play through March 5 at Dundalk Community Theatre, 7200 Sollers Point Road, Baltimore, MD. For Tickets, call the box office at 410-840-ARTS (2787) or purchase them online.
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