The Kelly Critics is a joint program of the Post-Gazette and Pittsburgh CLO's Gene Kelly Awards for Excellence in High School Musicals, in which students at Kelly schools review musicals at other Kelly schools. Reviews are edited by senior theater critic Christopher Rawson. Click here for links to reviews and the full Western Pennsylvania schedule of spring high school musicals.

I have been a “Shrek” enthusiast ever since my parents allowed me to watch cartoon television. The fact that I was going to see one of my all-time favorite childhood films recreate itself in the form of a cheesy Broadway musical made me content with spending my Friday night at a high school musical with my mom.

The small elementary school where the musical was staged was bustling with friends, family members, and every assortment of grocery store flowers for their favorite actor and actress. We had to park two blocks down, and it finally sunk in that this musical had the potential to be as spectacular as the crowd size promised.

“Shrek” is most famously known for the witty, animated movie hitting theaters nearly twenty years ago. Memorable and humorous quirks, such as a talking donkey, numerous innuendos appealing to a mature audience, and an uncanny fairytale plotline makes this movie stand out in more than just a handful of ways. The recent musical adaptation proves nothing less with its catchy songs and notable character appearances that audiences of all ages will be able to recognize.

It follows a pessimistic and irritable ogre on his quest to save a princess in distress. Though he only intends on pursuing this journey to get his swamp back from the egotistical lord of the land after it has been overtaken by various storybook creatures, he falls in love and defies the odds with a happy ending -- the holy matrimony of an ogre and a seemingly perfect princess.

Riverview High School brought everything but the kitchen sink to this show. The first notable feature enthralled me before any actor hit the stage, as the predominantly student orchestra harmoniously recreated the upbeat overture. Though smaller than any well-versed patron of high school productions would expect, their sound reached far beyond the doors of the auditorium and accompanied the show flawlessly. The curtain was raised to then expose a simple, but strikingly accurate set, making the audience feel as if they themselves were cast in the original movie.

The greatest accolade undeniably goes to the vocal performance. The first moment that truly drew me to the edge of my seat was Shrek’s (Preston Proctor) opening solo-- the upbeat, comical “Big Bright Beautiful World.” Proctor embodied the unforgettable ogre like no other, with the signature green face, pointy ears, and near perfect costuming. Proctor proved from his very first song that his voice and stage presence were a force to be reckoned with, as the audience erupted in a sea of applause and shouts before he was even finished belting the final note. He set the overall tone for the entire show and quickly dismissed any potential critics.

Striking me even more by surprise was the anticipated arrival of Shrek’s partner in crime, Donkey (Alexio Ciorra). Ciorra upstaged the original animated character by far, bringing an element of hilarious flamboyance followed by an astounding vocal range. His jaw-dropping, funky solo, “Make a Move,” proved that not only can donkeys talk, but they can sing too. As my personal favorite character, his modern interpretation of the witty animal made him a face to remember.

Reigning supreme in terms of vocality was the fearless, independent Princess Fiona (Meredith Kocur). According to the program, Kocur is a well-versed performer, so it comes as no surprise that she blew this role out of the water. Her awaited introduction was met with a flurry of applause as she gave the audience the first taste of her outstanding vocal ability in the hopeful and harmonious song, “I Know It’s Today.” Kocur’s gorgeous showcase of her range was effortless in “Morning Person” and her bluesy rasp in “I Think I Got You Beat ” floored me. Not only were her vocals and acting exquisite, but she showed everyone that she’s a triple threat with a memorable tap solo that took the audience by storm. Kocur embodied her character entirely, putting her heart and soul into this performance.

Last but certainly not least, the humor of the show was driven by the sarcastic and hysterical Lord Farquaad (Nico Catanzaro). Catanzaro proved to be a trooper, as he was on his knees for the entire show to correctly portray the comical height of Farquaad. His dedication to the character was impressive. Catanzaro had me laughing out loud in disbelief throughout.

RHS proved the old theatre adage correct, that there is no such thing as a small part, only a small actor. Though Pinocchio (Parker Morgan) and Gingy (Georgia Tsambis) were not leads, they played a prominent role by being the two most memorable supporting characters, just as memorable as the leading roles.

The remainder of the ensemble had an evident drive and passion for performing that high school ensembles typically lack. It shone the brightest in the catchy, empowering anthem, “Freak Flag.” Though the choreography was simple, it was clear that every person on that stage believed in the message of the song and performed it with passion and purpose.

Going into this musical, I was unsure how I would feel about it. Little did I know that my expectations would be completely surpassed in every way, from the reference to Oakmont Bakery that nearly received a standing ovation in the middle of the show, to the larger than life mechanical dragon that took center stage in the castle. At Riverview High School, they stopped at nothing to show that you can do what you love and be insanely good at doing it.

“Shrek” ran March 28-31.

First Published: April 22, 2019, 6:12 p.m.