Dear Diary,
It's a perfect reflection of this cast that over a dozen of us came out two hours earlier than normal to entertain a dozen toddlers for CPT's Swamp Soiree.
Coordinator Kelly Slater mapped out, photocopied, and distributed a to-the-minute plan chock full of Duloc delight.
I was especially excited for the first part, when both the kids and adults learned the Duloc dance ("Duloc is a perfect plaaaaace," with the right arm pump, among others). Then we freestyle danced to Freak Flag.
Some of the children were beside themselves to actually be dancing with Donkey, Farquaad and Pinocchio. A girl named Ella in particular was almost literally bouncing off every character, running right up to them and declaring her love.
Alan shared the secrets of the stage, like Farquaad's true height, the winking dragon, and the TV hovering above the audience which the cast uses to watch the conductor. Actually Alan described it as the lady being "in" the TV, but hopefully their young brains processed that we don't actually employ midgets.
Down in the basement the kids got Shrek-green makeup applied. By the time they got back up top, Shrek was actually there. Three different stage sets were in place for photo ops with Shrek in his shack, Fiona in her tower, or Farquaad on his horse.
Time to make Shrek cookies after that. M&M's and other sprinkles helped load the fans up with sugar just in time to go home, though many of them came back for the evening's performance.
It was a fund raiser in the technical sense of the term, though after feeding the actors with Monical's pizza it may have been more of an exercise in break-even. But it added another chapter to the unforgettable brand of the show.
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