A princess by day but by night an ogre, that’s the life of Princess Fiona in “Shrek.”
But there’s more to the character than that according to the young actor.
“The thing I like most about it is the character development,” said Lily Cate Paine, who is playing the role in the upcoming Musical Theatre Workshops’ version of the production.
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“Shrek” is about an unlikely hero in the form of an ogre with a donkey sidekick and a slew of fairy tale characters. It has multiple messages mixed in among the song, dance and laughs, cast members said.
And the biggest message, both she and Kresley Thames, who plays Shrek, get from the show is acceptance especially accepting yourself.
“Accepting yourself for who you are is a difficult thing to do,” Paine said.
Another important lesson from the show is “don’t judge based on first impressions,” according to Thames, who has played a wide array of roles including Prince Eric in “The Little Mermaid” and Alex in “Madagascar.”
The stage version has all the familiar characters of the 2001 DreamWorks Animation film plus a variety of songs including a tap dance number.
It opened on Broadway in November 2008 and will be brought to the Augusta University Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre stage beginning Thursday.
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The 37-member cast will perform at 7 p.m. May 5 and 6 and 2 p.m. May 7. Tickets are $20 for adults, $12 for students and senior citizens 65 and older and children 5 years old and younger are free.
Tickets are available online at onwiththeshow.biz through Wednesday or at the door prior to the show.
For more information, call (706) 231-1759.
Musical Theatre Workshops will be gearing up for summer camps soon. Six weeks of summer camp start June 6 with a different musical highlighted each week. The camps are open for children who are rising second graders through rising eighth graders.
The cost is $155 per week. They will be held at Augusta Preparatory Day School
Charmain Z. Brackett is the managing editor of The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com
