Annual meeting interrupted by “so-called misfits”

Published 10:00 pm Tuesday, July 1, 2014

062714-ShrekSunnydale

Cast of “Shrek the Musical” entertains at Sunnydale, at the Tryon Little Theater Annual Meeting recently, dinner was interrupted by a bunch of so-called misfits – ogres, elves, witches and other assorted fairytale creatures – determined to entertain TLT’s membership. Getting a taste of the youth summer production is becoming a tradition at these meetings and something the crowd looks forward to. The musical is a must-see show for all the family, and as with any good story, there’s a lesson to be learned.
Shrek, the poor ogre, is turned out by his parents at a young age (because that’s what ogres do), and he finds a patch of stinky swampland to call his own.  Many years later his solitude is disturbed by a bunch of fairytale creatures, dumped on his land because they’ve been banished from their home (the Kingdom of Duloc) by the evil Lord Farquaad. The reason given: he has deemed them freakish and too different from everyone else.
On the way to give Farquaad a telling off, and hoping to get his solitude back, Shrek meets Donkey, who takes an immediate liking to the ogre and decides to accompany him to Duloc, much to Shrek’s chagrin.
Farquaad (of seriously short heritage) however, finds out he can’t become a king unless he marries a princess, so plans to rescue Princess Fiona from a dragon-guarded tower.  Ever much the coward, Farquaad persuades Shrek to do his dirty work, in exchange for his beloved stinky swamp.
And so the story progresses, with a temperamental princess, a lovesick dragon, a biscuit with attitude, boiling lakes of lava and lots of singing and dancing. If you want to know the end of the story, you’ll just have to go see the show and learn how it teaches life lessons of friendship and love, and that life is tough sometimes and although we’re all different—being different is OK!
The book and lyrics of this Broadway musical adaptation of the hit movie “Shrek” were written by David Lindsay-Abaire, with music by Jeanine Tesori, and was originally produced on Broadway by DreamWorks Theatricals and Neal Street productions.  Directing TLT’s show this summer is Chris Tinkler, with the help of musical director Lena Duncan.
So welcome to the land of Duloc. “Shrek The Musical” runs July 10 – 13 at the Tryon Fine Arts Center (34 Melrose Avenue). Box office opens July 30 at the TLT Workshop (516 S. Trade St. Tryon). Box office hours are Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., and Tuesday and Thursday 4-7 p.m. Visit www.tltinfo.org or call 828-859-2466 for more information.

– article submitted
by Monica Jones

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