The Cowichan Musical Society will perform Shrek The Musical on the big stage at the Cowichan Performing Arts Centre starting Jan. 27.

Following their successful staging last year of Beauty and the Beast, the CMS is taking on this beloved and hilarious fairy tale B次元官网网址渋n which curses are reversed, monsters get the girls, donkeys and dragons find love, and princesses are beautiful in all shapes and sizes.B次元官网网址�

As in the childrenB次元官网网址檚 book and popular move version, grumpy, gruff, green ogre Shrek lives alone in his swamp.

Suddenly, his hermit existence is thrown open, when a group of homeless fairy tale characters B次元官网网址� Pinocchio, the Gingerbread Man, the Three Little Pigs, and more B次元官网网址� burst upon his swamp, seeking refuge from the persecution of the cruel, vertically challenged Lord Farquaad.

In a desperate attempt to regain his swampB次元官网网址檚 hermetic peace, Shrek enters the world for the first time in his life. He travels to Princess FionaB次元官网网址檚 prison, rescues her from a fire-breathing dragon, and then B次元官网网址� scariest of all B次元官网网址� is forced to get to know the princess as he tries to bring her back to evil Farquaad.

To the determinedly unsocial ogreB次元官网网址檚 dismay, Fiona is very different from what he expected a princess to be.

She may even provoke ShrekB次元官网网址檚 most novel experience yet: love.

With dazzling sets, high energy dance numbers, and laughs by the minute, Shrek the Musical transforms the contemporary childrenB次元官网网址檚 book and popular animated feature film into a stage musical that is sure to entertain and make audiences believers in happy endings for all.

Irwin Killam, president of the Cowichan Musical Society, said that after two years of having stages and theatres mostly dark during the COVID-19 pandemic, the society wanted to do something fun and for families.

B次元官网网址淲e wanted something that was for all ages, and Shrek is a real good story as well with great musical numbers,B次元官网网址� she said.

B次元官网网址淲e think people will want to come to see such an amusing and light-hearted show after the pandemic. The production has a cast of about 60 very talented actors with a wide range of ages.B次元官网网址�

Killam said Shrek will be played by Graham Brockley, a practicing doctor who has had lead roles in Beauty and The Beast and other productions.

B次元官网网址淕raham is an amazing singer and actor who is always well received by the audience,B次元官网网址� she said.

Killam said Brockley was in musical theatre programs before his attention shifted to science and he decided to enter medical school, but he never gave up on theatre, much to everyoneB次元官网网址檚 delight.

She said the lovable and funny donkey character in Shrek The Musical is played by 15-year-old Ryland Racicot, a student at DuncanB次元官网网址檚 Adage Dance Studio.

Killam said that, although young, Racicot has played parts in the CMSB次元官网网址檚 Beauty and The Beast and Mamma Mia! productions.

B次元官网网址淭his is RylandB次元官网网址檚 first big role with us,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淗e was encouraged to audition for the show, but he didnB次元官网网址檛 expect to get a part. But he was fantastic in the audition for the role of Donkey, and heB次元官网网址檚 been just great in the rehearsals as well.B次元官网网址�

Killam said Princess Fiona is played by Brenna Bazinet, who graduated from CalgaryB次元官网网址檚 Ambrose University with a Bachelor of Music (Voice).

B次元官网网址淏renna has had parts in other productions, including Mary Poppins, but this is her first production with us,B次元官网网址� she said.

B次元官网网址淲e encourage everyone to come back and enjoy live theatre again. Shrek The Musical is a lot of fun and good music and it will be a great show.B次元官网网址�

Regular tickets for Shrek The Musical are $49, children eight and under get in for $39, Rows O-P tickets are $39 and Rows A and B tickets are $29.

This show is family fare, and starts at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 27, Saturday, Jan. 28, Friday, Feb. 3 and Saturday, Feb. 4.

There are two matinees scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 29 at 2 p.m. and Sunday Feb. 5, also at 2 p.m.