This may have die hard theater kids shaking in their boots, but I was never a starkid consumer. StarKid musicals are heavily embedded into pop culture and while I was chronically online in my adolescence, I barely touched Starkid productions. (I did watch “The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals" once though…and I loved it.) For those of you in the same boat, StarKid Productions is a musical theatre company founded by a group of creatives that attended the University of Michigan's School of Music, Theater and Dance. Their musicals went viral on youtube and since their popularity, they have a bit of a cult following. So, when I heard Western Washington University’s Student Theatre Productions was producing The Trail To Oregon, I couldn't pass it up.

Director, Gabe O’Rourke-Dela Cruz, expands on how show’s, much like The Trail To Oregon, are what the world needs in this moment in time. While this show is about a family making the trek to Oregon, “from walking miles in the winter to getting kidnapped… as humans we struggle to see that the grass isn't always greener on the other side.” In this climate, that phrase is especially heavy. 

Before I entered the Old Main theatre, there was a feral fragrance to the air. We were lined up to place our “ballot of death” for a family member in the show. Each performance, audience members get to vote for who dies. That isn't the only audience participation, we get to name the family too. As lights fill the house, the father, played by Bryer Ramsey, asks “I NEED A NAME!”. Naturally, I blurted out “Bicycle”. Couldn't tell you why, but I did. His name was Bicycle for the entirety of the show. For context, and to share the list of names other audience members blurted out, here’s the family tree: 

Father: Bicycle

Mother: Cropduster 

Grandpa: Dr Dre

Daughter: String Cheese

Son: Robo Pancreas

Bryer Ramsey, a familiar face to WWU's stage, is endearing, grounded and hilarious in his role of the Father. Ramsey takes comedy very seriously, especially physical, and as the father he had every audience member wrapped around his finger. “When god burns down a farm, he opens up a window” was a line I had to put pen to paper - because as a former worship leader turned queer theatre journalist/photographer/playwright - I about fell out of my seat. 

While this is a student production, I try to be considerate of the resources a university club has when it comes to sets, costumes, lighting, and overall design aspects. Likewise, collaboration with other student creatives means they are perfecting their craft.  This show was elevated by the actors, band, and lighting, but I do wish the backdrop of the set filled the stage. Sitting in the second row of the theater, that is relatively small, the stage felt deep and often like actors were swimming in the empty space rather than filling it. While that feeling was, at most, noticeable in intimate ballad moments, I wished for closeness due to the frequent high energy, choreographed and comedic sequences that filled a majority of the show. 

Ava Nicholas, an ensemble member, took many forms. A newer face to the WWU theatre space, I was completely invested in Nicolas’s performance. From a wagon salesman to a horny OX, she was fierce and intentional, taking her commitment to comedy to a whole new level. An honest jack of all trades, I was looking forward to every time she graced us with an entrance. Another ensemble member, Jacob Lane, was a silly addition to the cast. Sporting a memorable death drop in the finale, this gay midwest character was McDoon’s casual partner, an OX, and many more brilliant things.  I will not elaborate further, you need to see ALL of the tomfoolery that is this show. 

As Audrey Campbell rolled around on the stage last night, I was brought back to my younger self. Playing the daughter, Audrey embraces her spunky, youthful and unapologetic personality in her portrayal of the Daughter, or on that night, also known as “String Cheese”. Previously recognized in her role as Ocean in WWU’s Ride The Cyclone on the Mainstage, Campbell is a powerhouse and force to be reckoned with. Her vocal abilities are absolutely unmatched, but beyond that, her witty soul captivates a crowd. While her performance is grounded in comedy, in the most intimate of moments she graced the audience with an unforgettable presence. She provides strength and a grounded nature to the Daughter, a quality that could easily slip away in the midst of the laughter. 

On a softer note, this musical did more than just make me laugh for 2 hours. As a journalist, performer, and general theatre creative, I think we spend so much time grappling with the heavy, complex, and important narratives that art and theatre can offer. The Trail To Oregon takes all of those complexities and says “Fuck it, we ball.” In this obscure comedy, the cast of STP’s Trail To Oregon brings a lighthearted punch to the community at large. 

You have 2 more chances to see The Trail To Oregon, May 4th and 5th  @ 7:30PM. Ticket information can be found on STP’s Instagram here.