Dear Diary,
The kids cast adds another dimension of life to the show. Mostly these 20 characters of more "modern" fairytale nature (Harry Potter, Fix-It Felix, Primrose Everdeen) stand in two groups off to the left and right wings of the stage and join the adult cast in a couple of specialized dances. One or two of them play Lord Farquaad's dad, the dwarf Grumpy, in lip-sync with a recorded adult voice. A couple like Solomon Lott (Baby Shrek) and Kalen Mapguay (Baby Bear) play more visible bit parts. They show impressive restraint in keeping their voices down backstage, well enough to rival the adult cast.
Since there's barely enough room backstage for the 40 adult cast members, they spend most of the show huddled in a nearby church, where I'm told there's a small paradise of foosball, other games, and snacks available. Not so many snacks, though, to prevent them from cheerfully snarfing down the giant packages of Twizzlers licorice strips I've bought for them at least once a weekend. (Licorice is the sweet of choice for the theater, since it doesn't smear a costume the way chocolate does.)
They're lucky to have the parents they do, trucking them to rehearsal and often sitting through it. Patiently waiting whenever rehearsals had to stretch later than scheduled. Helping chaperone this unlikely-looking horde as it crossed the street in front of confused drivers.
These kids can dance. This I found out at the cast party. As I drifted onto the dance floor, amidst the artificial fog (which, since it could be triggered by the kids like any regular toy, was thicker than both hulls of the Titanic) and laser lights, a song was blaring over the jukebox that every one of them seemed to know, and I'd never heard in my life. Apparently, the song was intended to be screamed. It was crazy fun.
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