Review: 'Fiona: The Musical' – a love letter to Cincinnati – rivals the likes of Broadway

She has her own line of Cincy Shirts. Her own Instagram account. Even her own Wikipedia page. She's been depicted in children's books, in the Cincinnati Ballet's "Nutcracker" and in three seasons of her own reality show sponsored by Facebook.

So, what does Ensemble Theatre's premiere of "Fiona: The Musical" add to the conversation around Fiona – the Cincinnati Zoo darling who broke the internet in 2017 for being the smallest hippo on record to have ever been born and survive?

The answer is a charming demonstration of joy punctuated with superb local talent. In short: "Fiona: The Musical," written by Zina Camblin with music and lyrics by David Kisor, directed by D. Lynn Meyers, adds some things to Fiona's global narrative that we've yet to see before: vulnerability, authenticity and nuance. And, of course, an outstanding soundtrack from Kisor that captures the universal appeal of Cincinnati's favorite underdog.

With moving sets, modernized costuming and stunning ensemble vocals rivaling the likes of Broadway, "Fiona: The Musical" is sure to delight theater-goers of all ages, from kids cheering on their favorite Cincinnati Zoo celebrity to arts patrons seeking top-tier local work.

"Fiona: The Musical" premiered at the Ensemble Theatre, 1127 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine, on Nov. 29 and will continue through Dec. 29. Tickets are available online at ensemblecincinnati.org.

'Fiona: The Musical' shows the uncanny parallels between animals and mankind

Unlike other depictions of Fiona's story, "Fiona: The Musical" illustrates the wide scope of the hippo's impact from the grounds of the Cincinnati Zoo to national headlines, from her premature birth to internet stardom.

And ultimately, Camblin's comedic-yet-profound storytelling shows us the remarkable parallels between Fiona – played by the perky, magnetic Erin McCamley – and the humans cheering her on.

The musical follows a Cincinnati zookeeper, Zoe – performed by extraordinary local actor Brandi La'Sherrill – ridiculed by her co-workers for being an "animal whisperer" of sorts. After baby Fiona is born six weeks premature, weighing just 29 pounds (a typical newborn baby hippo weighs between 55 and 120 pounds), Zoe emerges as the preemie's greatest advocate and best friend.

While we witness Fiona's fearless journey toward mastering her "hippo skills" through act 1, Zoe must channel her own fearlessness as she fights for Fiona's well-being despite her nasty zookeeper counterparts and meddling from local media (that's right, a Cincinnati Enquirer reporter named Zander – portrayed by the phenomenal Andrew Maloney – appears near the end of the first act).

And, of course, no musical theater comedy is complete without a conniving-yet-lovable antagonist. The electric Darnell Pierre Benjamin lights up the stage as the self-absorbed Raffy the Giraffe, who tries to orchestrate Fiona's downfall to sustain his own internet clout in larger-than-life numbers like "I Want My Fans Back."

More than anything, the show breathes a certain Cincinnati spirit, leaving the audience giddy, grateful and in a generous standing ovation – myself included.

Our top 5 moments from 'Fiona: The Musical'

1. The 'Oxpecker Battle Rap' invites audience participation

Benjamin as Raffy hosts a nail-biting, delightfully-fun rap battle between the zoo's red and yellow oxpeckers – a show of pure charisma by actors Kate Wilford and Elexis Selmon, respectively.

The best part: Benjamin turns to the roaring audience to select the winner.

2. Cincinnati references galore!

Perhaps one of the most charming parts of Camblin's script is the plethora of Cincinnati references: from Skyline Chili, Findlay Market and LaRosa's Pizzeria to Kings Island, the UC Bearcats and (our favorite) the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Audience members are sure to enjoy how Camblin's writing positions the city of Cincinnati as one of the principal characters of Fiona's story.

3. Breathtaking performances by McCamley and La'Sherrill in duet 'Being Brave'

Protagonists McCamley (Fiona) and La'Sherrill (Zoe) flex their vocal prowess in a stunning duet, "Being Brave," near the end of the show. McCamley's wide, uplifting vocal tone compliments La'Sherrill's intense, goosebumps-worthy vibrato in a tune that captures their shared experience as underdogs who remain resilient.

4. La'Sherrill and Maloney are the love interests we're all rooting for

La'Sherrill (Zoe) and Maloney (Zander) bring an earnest chemistry to the stage as budding love interests. Maloney flexes his crisp, baritone singing skills in his number, "Headline News," toward the end of the first act, pairing nicely with La'Sherrill's distinctly classical vocal tone.

We'll refrain from giving spoilers, but nothing delights us quite like seeing an Enquirer reporter portrayed with stellar vocal ability onstage.

5. Supporting actors Brooke Steele and Michael G. Bath expertly tackle multiple characters

The dynamic ensemble truly is the backbone of "Fiona: The Musical." Actors Brooke Steele and Michael G. Bath stand out for their ability to expertly tackle multiple characters.

Steele and Bath execute innumerable costume changes to appear as both a pair of zookeepers with bad intentions and zoo animals (a monkey and a lesser kudu) throughout the show, and they do it all seamlessly. In each set of roles, the actors deliver standout performances, even switching up their accents according to each set of supporting roles.

(A special shout-out goes to Steele's excruciating, hilarious millennial drawl she employs when she's onstage as Diana, the snobby zookeeper.)

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Review: Ensemble's 'Fiona: The Musical' rivals the likes of Broadway