As I walk from my car into the Bluestem amphitheater, I am greeted with the smell of mosquito spray and popcorn.
Yep, I am at a Trollwood production. For more than 25 years, I have been attending Trollwood’s summer offerings. As a family, as a Trollwood student and now as a a regular patron. While the venue has changed since seeing the likes of Jesus Christ Superstar in North Fargo…the smell remains the same.
Disney’s Freaky Friday is a musical based on three popular Disney properties of the same name. The 1976 flick starring Barbara Harris and Jodie Foster, the 2003 remake with Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis and a made-for-tv musical special that aired on the Disney channel in 2018. This is the regional premiere of ‘Freaky Friday’ and if you don’t know the story or have never heard of the musical, never fear – the plot is as old as human beings.
At the core, ‘Freaky Friday’ is about a daughter who wishes her mother would just let her be herself and a mother who wishes her daughter would understand that there is more to life than getting what she wants. After a fateful wish where the two yearn for the other to understand what their life is like….even for a day…they switch bodies.
Moms – do you think going to school sounds like a breeze? No job, no cares and no adult responsibilities – think again!
Daughters – do you think being an adult is just getting to make the rules? No fun, no school and no bedtime – think again!
When my wife and I sat down on a beautiful summer night to take in the show, we made friends with an older couple sitting next to us. They hadn’t missed a show in years. In fact, they live near the old amphitheater in north Fargo. They used to walk to the show, now they carpool. Everyone has a memory of Trollwood. Being amazed by the songs, the talent, the sets and the crowds. ‘Freaky Friday’ packs all of your favorite things into this experience.
THE CAST
The two leads, the mother/daughter duo who switch bodies, are amazing. The physicality after the switch, the comedic timing and the chemistry are all there. Especially as they both start to realize things about the other that change perspective. Scene stealing roles from additional cast members include a gym teacher with attitude, a neurotic assistant and a driven overachiever villain (played by one of my favorite FNH grads Abbey Greenawalt). The modern setting means kids are wearing heightened versions of their own clothes and they look comfortable in their own skin. Great ensemble numbers, superb dancing and fun. It looks and feels like these students are having fun in the show. Trust me, from someone who has done multi-week runs of shows…it can become a bit dull – but not for these actors and actresses! Andie Peterson plays Katherine Blake, the mother, and the next time you will see her might be in a professional touring company or Broadway. This girl has talent. Immense talent. The gentleman sitting next to me asked, “She’s a professional, right? They brought in a ringer for the mother?” That’s how good she is in this role and every other role she has had the opportunity to crush as a Trollwood student. Playing Ellie Blake, McKenna Brye, mines every moment of comedic energy while onstage. She gets a lot of laughs both before and after the big switch. Notably, she shines in a scene during a parent-teacher conference. Overall, perfectly cast.
THE SET
My favorite city in the world is Chicago, IL and that just happens to be the setting for ‘Freaky Friday.’ The iconic skyline and El tracks make up a modern looking set that easily becomes a family kitchen, a high school and even a midnight jaunt to the world famous Buckingham fountain. The set is fun and functional. Scene changes are swift and keep the energy flowing.
THE COSTUMES
When a show is set in modern times, it can appear lazy to just have kids wear their own clothes. ‘Freaky Friday’ is far from this standard. I enjoyed the heightened versions of street gear and the ever present cell phone prop that characters are constantly using. Excellent touch!
THE SONGS
My personal favorite is “I Got This” as each character explains their interpretation of what the other does all day and how easy it will be to pretend to be a student/mom. My wife loved “Oh, Biology” as Katherine, now in the body of her teenage daughter, attends a science class but finds herself conflicted by the hormones and angst of a sixteen year old body. There are more than a handful of showstoppers and since this show is fresh – most of the audience is experiencing these for the first time ever.
THE CROWD
I saw children, adults and retired aged folks enjoying this show. Disney is in the name, so you know that younger audiences are in mind, but personally, I think this show is geared to families. Mothers and daughters especially. Anyone can find joy in an evening at Bluestem – but the show will have incredible appeal to women, mothers and daughters (of any age) and middle schoolers.
OVERALL
I go to a lot of theater. And I am clearly biased towards my love for the Trollwood Performing Arts program. So I will leave you with this. My wife, who enjoys theater but is a casual theater goer at best…already bought tickets to go again. If that isn’t a seal of approval, I don’t know what is!
Additional Content by JJ Gordon:
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A Tale of Two Murders
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Viva El King House!
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I Made a Will for My Dead Cat
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(Listen to JJ Gordon every weekday from 11am to 2pm on
It Takes 2 with Amy and JJ
. On the Mighty 790AM KFGO or on our app!)
