Meagan Castillo (Fiona) is excited to be spending another summer at the beautiful Kitsap Forest Theater. A Seattle native, Meagan has performed with many local theater companies, including Seattle Musical Theater, SecondStory Repertory, Tacoma Musical Playhouse and the Seattle Gilbert and Sullivan Society. She is currently a pre-nursing student at Bellevue College.

The 2015 season, offering two amazing shows, presented a unique challenge for Meagan. “Actors frequently ask each other about their ‘list’, which shows and roles they are dying to do.  My list is pretty short, but Fiona in Shrek is definitely on it”, so when she saw that the theater was also producing Mary Poppins, another dream role, Meagan was torn. “It’s always tricky, balancing family and ‘work’.  Fortunately my family is amazing, and although my kids are too busy to participate in the summer show, everyone encouraged me to go out for both shows.” Much to Meagan’s surprise, she landed both leads.

The themes in Shrek (along with the quirky characters and upbeat music), are part of what drew Meagan to the show. “The need to fit in, to be what others expect you to be, can be strong. Shrek reminds us not only to embrace our own differences, but to respect the differences in others”.

Meagan was first drawn to the Kitsap Forest Theater in 2011, when her then 10-year-old son expressed an interest in joining her on stage. The unique environment of the theater, which encourages family participation both on and off stage, was a perfect fit. Since then, Meagan has had the privilege of appearing on the Kitsap stage with both of her younger sons; in the 2013 production of Narnia, and Honk! in 2014.  “I believe that the family friendly, multi-generational environment of the Kitsap Forest Theater is very important, both for the cast and for the audience. I'm proud to be a part of creating a place where parents and grandparents can expose their children to quality theater in a relaxed and welcoming space”.

Michael C. Moore's review in the Kitsap Sun. (Photos by Alfonso Barrera)

On opening weekend, the cast of the Mountaineers Players' production of "Shrek, the Musical" at the Kitsap Forest Theater were having their makeup washed off by prodigious rainfall.

For the performance I saw, though — Aug. 2 — they had to hose down the floor/stage at intermission to beat down the dust.

Having weathered the inclement stuff at KFT in previous years, I appreciated the extremely clement conditions — and I'm sure director Nikki Fey-Burgett's cast and crew did, too.

The performance had a lot more than good weather to recommend it, though. Fey-Burgett has assembled a large and talented cast of actors and — especially — singers to bring the David Lindsay-Abaire—Jeanine Tesori song-and-dance (based on a trilogy of DreamWorks Animation film features) to the forest. From its dozens of bright costumes and imaginative (and minimal, by necessity) sets to its depth of vocal and instrumental talent, it's generally really well wrought.

And the setting. Well. It's all the same trees that were there last time you went, but you never get tired of them — especially when they're providing shade, as they were on Aug. 2, and not shelter from the harsher elements.

I have to issue a strong warning, though, to anyone considering a hike down to the remaining performances, Saturday and Sunday matinees through Aug. 16: Be prepared for distractions.

"Shrek's" best features, for adults, are its clever lyrics and snarky, funny script. For the younger set, it's the presentation of the characters — not just the Big Green Ogre himself, but the pint-sized Lord Farquaad, the comical Donkey and the platoon of fairy-tale characters that Shrek takes it upon himself to re-relocate from his bog and back to their homes in Duloc.

For many of the youngsters — including a big bunch of toddlers who haven't grown up knowing the film series because they've just barely started growing up at all — the jokes are over their wee heads, and the characters can only hold their attention for so long, especially during several extended sequences of dialogue or vocal solos or duets.

The little ones were gone by intermission — not physically, but intellectually. There's more movement in the galleries than there is on the stage.

If you're there for the "experience," that's all part of it. But if you're there just to see the show, it's liable to make you grumpier'n a ... well ... an ogre who just wants peace and quiet.

It's too bad, because — as previously stated — the show is quite good. Despite what I felt was a somewhat deliberate pace, the story of Shrek's quest to earn the deed to the bog by rescuing Farquaad's intended (the princess Fiona, the Girl with a Secret) is told efficiently, the costumes are fetching and the music is consistently at a high level (musical director Dawn Brazel has bass and drums to augment the Mountaineers' usual keyboard accompaniment, with Josh Zimmerman doubling on electric guitar to bring a convincing rock ‘n' roll feel to several of the numbers.

The leads — Jason Gingold as Shrek, Meagan Castillo (who played Mary Poppins at KFT only a few weeks ago) as Fiona, Matthew Sythandone as Donkey and Adam Othman as the vertically challenged Farquaad — all are wonderful. A personal highlight is the early-Act 2 gross-out battle between Shrek and Fiona, "I Thinks I Got You Beat," a totally charming sequence where the two gradually warm to each other, with the bonus (at least for the sophomoric, like myself) of perhaps the best fart-and-burp sound effects ever to grace the old amphitheater.

At least, I hope they were sound effects.

A few supporting players get their chance to shine, as well, and none does as much with the opportunity as Taylor Davis as Pinocchio, bringing great comedy and a ripping good voice to the fairy-tale rabble-rouser. Both of Fiona's younger incarnations — Maria Pledger and Anna Vizzare — also do strong vocal work in brief appearances during "I Know It's Today."

Mike Myers voiced the Shrek character in the movies, and the rude, referential humor that drips over into the musical owes a lot to him. Shrek and Donkey aren't a million miles from Wayne and Garth, and the off-color gags are toned down from the "Austin Powers" franchise.

That'll all well and good ... unless you're a 3-year-old, who doesn't get much of any of it. At some point, you become more concerned with whether there's any popcorn left.

If you can follow it through, though — including the distractions — you'll like and appreciate the Mountaineers' "Shrek." Owing to all that musical talent, it might be even more fun to listen to than it is to watch.

Jason Gingold (Shrek) is overjoyed to be performing in his 3^rd production at KFT. Last season he played the Cat in Honk! and Rooster Hannigan in Annie. Here is what he had to say about his experience in Shrek, the Musical:

"I love Shrek. The music is fantastic, the script is hilarious and moving, and the Kitsap Forest Theater is really the perfect place to perform a musical that takes place, well, in the forest. And, the joy of joys is that I feel absolutely blessed to play one of my dream roles."

"To me, Shrek is a story about transformation. When we meet Shrek, he is an outcast who has learned to cope with twenty years of ostracism, suffering and loneliness by lashing out at the world and accepting a fate of isolation. His journey to soften his heart, to “tear down the walls” (literal and figurative) and make space for others to be a part of his world is very moving to me. As an actor, showing that progression, from defended and angry to open-hearted, is a wonderful challenge. I think that Shrek, despite being an ogre, is one of the most human characters I’ve had the opportunity to play."

"The other beautiful part about this play is its message of acceptance. Shrek, Fiona, and the fairytale creatures must learn to accept who they are, and be willing to share that proudly with the world.  I think that message is very timely. We are living in a time when many people—for dozens of reasons—are struggling to accept themselves, and be accepted by the world. I love knowing that we are presenting a story that stands up for all the people who feel left out or “less than”. Everyone has a story to tell. Everyone has something beautiful inside them. Everyone is special. I can’t think of a play I’d rather be a part of at this time than this show."

"As the song says, “We are different. And united. You are us and we are you. This is our story.”"

"(Plus there’s a lot of fart jokes.)"

Thank you, Jason, for sharing how much this role means to you. We encourage everyone to purchase your tickets today and plan to attend this fabulous show - you won't be disappointed! Three more weekends left (Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 pm) to see the show - trail to the theater opens at 1:00 pm - come early for the best choice of seats.