Skip to content

‘Shrek’ gets musical in Wetaskiwin

WCHS to debut winter play Dec. 1
9225386_web1_IMG_0698WEB

The princess hid in a tower for years, waiting for a group of high school thespians to save her with their winter production of Shrek: The Musical.

The Wetaskiwin Composite High School (WCHS) drama program has started rehearsals for its rendition of the Dreamworks hit film Shrek.

The play will be held Dec. 1, 2, 8 and 9 at 7 p.m. in the WCHS drama studio, and on Dec. 3 and 10 a 1 p.m. Tickets are $10 for students and $15 for adults and went on sale Nov. 8.

The musical will stay mainly true to the movie storyline audiences know and love, with a few minor surprises and additional songs. It also features the veteran acting talents of high school students Daniel Kovacs, who plays Lord Farquaad, Vyktorya King as Princess Fiona, and Matt Parsons, who will be seen as Papa Shrek, a guard, and captain of the guard.

Parsons, who has been with the drama program for 4 years, says the school annually puts on one large production near the beginning of the year.

“I was really incredibly thrilled. I was so excited,” said Kovacs, referring to his reaction to the announcement this year would be Shrek.

Parson’s had a much different reaction. “I was like ‘I guess I should watch the movie’,” he said with a grin.

“I really resonate with the character. There’s a lot of ways we’re really similar,” said King, who has been doing drama for eight years.

Her favourite part of the Princess Fiona character is the dynamic personality and the “push and pull of emotions.”

Kovacs, who has been with the drama program for three years, auditioned for both the roles of Lord Farquaad and Shrek, says he is please will his character and glad he will not have to take on an accent for his role.

He adds, after seeing both the film and the musical versions of Shrek he likes the musical better. “It really adds a new kind of life into the story.”

For King, her favourite part of the production is seeing it all come together, and hopes the audience will see the classic Shrek humour brought to life in the play. “I hope they take the Shrek story itself — don’t judge a book by its cover.”

amelia.naismith@pipestoneflyer.ca