Through the years, Jamie Wilson has played larger-than-life roles onstage and even on TV. Yet, he managed to embody all the characters with contrast that he apparently discovered a lot.
He admits everyone has “layers,” similar to the latest character he is portraying — Shrek.
“We all have layers and I identify particularly with the character of Shrek,” said Jamie. “Before I shaved my goatee off and fixed my hair, I really looked like an ogre around the streets. People would stay away from me and be scared of me.
“But don’t judge a book by its cover. It’s nice to peel back the layers and see who the person really is. I’m glad that we have the chance to do that in this show through these characters and it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
Shrek has apparently impacted Jamie even before he started actual rehearsals. “It’s really hard to sing ‘Who I’d Be’ without crying,” Jamie said. “I guess this is only the second time I that I haven’t cried in the middle of the song.
“It’s so meaningful. You can relate to it and you’ll realize who your own hero in the story. You’ll find the opportunity, you’ll find the courage to be a hero of your own story. Preparing for ‘Shrek,’ I’ve been working a lot. It’s not easy being an ogre.
“But in a deeper sense, I love this character who has been cast out by society just because he was born an ogre. He was told to leave his home, fend for himself and find his own way through the world.”
For the funny lines, Shrek will have to stick with the script. “The script is our bible,” insisted Jamie. “So we stick to the script. I think what’s going to be amazing is discovery of the script. What you really find funny about it. … Yes, there are a lot of funny lines but what do you really find funny in it and how to deliver it is going to be that character’s discovery. I think it’s going to be really funny because we have to exercise our sense of humor in this production.”
Another thing he likes about “Shrek the Musical” is he’s not the baddie.
“It’s nice to not play a contravida for a change,” Jamie said. “Like in ‘Ang Huling El Bimbo’ or even in ‘Engcantadia,’ I am known to be a villain.
“The similarities between the roles, it always takes a lot of hard work because you start from scratch. With every role I play, it has always been a period of discovery and hard work, with the guidance of our musical director, director, creatives, it’s always a group effort. I learn about my role by inter-acting with my scene partners and how they treat my character onstage.
“That, alone, will be very educational in terms of shaping my character. Of course, you have to pay your homage, like how do you play Shrek, who is an iconic character. There are some room and some space that are non-negotiable.
“But the group effort of this entire team, it’s going to be a period of discovery. It’s going to be so much fun. I can’t wait to play Shrek.”
The veteran stage and screen actor has done work even behind the scenes as a director. He has worn many hats in the industry.
“I love doing everything, but I really love being seen onstage,” he said. “I love being an actor because I can tell stories. I get to not be being myself for a couple of hours.
“I get to forget my troubles and problems and be somebody else. But I also enjoy directing. I enjoy assistant direction. I enjoy all aspects of theater. I’d be happy turning the page for Sir Rodel (Santos).
“I’d be happy doing other work. If I can’t be part of the magic onstage, then I have to be close to the magic somehow. I’d be happy doing any position. But I’m really happy to be onstage.”
“Shrek the Musical” will not showcase the freaks, like the ogres, as a spectacle in the musical. “We will just present them as they are,” said Julia Serad, who plays the Dragon. “And what truth is there all the blur lines, All the freaks are just going to be them without making fun of what they are supposed to be.”
The whole point of doing foreign musicals is not to really copy. “That’s pointless to just copy,” Julia added. “But it’s a continuous discovery. Filipino artists will not agree to just copy. Doing originals is really difficult, but it’s also difficult to do foreign existing ones and test them.”
The entire 47-member cast of “Shrek The Musical” went to the whole process of auditions. “The cast is huge because we have such a huge theater,” explained associate director Menchu Lauchengco Yulo. “Anything below thirty, the stage just looks so empty.
“So that’s one of the reasons when we choose musicals to stage. We really need major production numbers. Shows that are more spectacle that’s why we are toying around with the theme park idea.
“The Broadway production was simple because of its limited stage. But ours is just a massive stage, also very visually stimulating for children because the material is a little bit adult, so it just might go over their heads.”
It has been 24 years since the animated “Shrek” appeared before the eyes of audiences. “So we really want to keep them visually stimulated and we are trying to make our director, Dexter Santos’ vision come true,” said Menchu.
“Shrek The Musical” is based on DreamWorks Animation motion picture and the classic book by William Steig. It features book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire and music by Jeanine Tesori, first brought to Broadway in 2008.
Jamie and Julia are joined by Krystal Kane as Fiona, Topper Fabregas as Donkey and Alfredo Reyes as Lord Farquaad.
