Audiences are being welcomed back to a familiar swamp.

Shrek The Musical is coming to the south Island for the first time, as Four Seasons Musical Theatre brings the loveable green ogre and his friends from Broadway to Langford starting Friday (May 22) for their biggest and greenest production to date.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a great honour to bring the show to our audience.  It is by far one of the most ambitious shows produced by Four Seasons and one that IB次元官网网址檓 glad to be a part of,B次元官网网址� said director Jim Goodman.

He looks forward to showing off the sights and sounds of a colourful fairy tale world at the Isabelle Reader Theatre, and points out that audiences are in for a some surprises.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e been keeping a number of our costumes, sets and props under a tight lock and key so as to not give away any of the showB次元官网网址檚 secrets.B次元官网网址�

Despite a modest production budget, he said, the hard work and dedication of the cast and crew will be evident.

B次元官网网址淥ne of the things that constantly surprises me when directing is the talents that people have,B次元官网网址� Goodman said. B次元官网网址淔or some, itB次元官网网址檚 their first show ever. The talent that they bring to the production B次元官网网址� be it performing in the show or doing things behind the scenes B次元官网网址� that passion and dedication is phenomenal.B次元官网网址�

A.J. Hildebrand plays the lead character, his first starring role with the all-ages theatre company. He looks forward to bringing the required layers to the affable ogre, with whom he shares some personality traits.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a unique opportunity to play something that is very close to home for me. He is a very stalwart, stoic character that doesnB次元官网网址檛 allow people in very easily,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏y nature IB次元官网网址檓 quite an introvert, so itB次元官网网址檚 easy to slip into the method acting. Like ShrekB次元官网网址檚 quest, itB次元官网网址檚 a chance to step outside the comfort zone and challenge myself in the same way he gets taken out of his comfortable swamp and gets into the wind-swept adventure with Donkey, and eventually Fiona.B次元官网网址�

Joining him on the adventure are Sasha Moriarty-Schieven as Donkey, Julie French as Princess Fiona and Nathan Black as the evil Lord Farquaad. They and the rest of the cast and crew have dedicated themselves to the project and each other, in a way Hildebrand hasnB次元官网网址檛 seen before.

B次元官网网址淭he best part of this process is the feeling of family,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hese people are the warmest, most genuine people. Even if I were to go to a bigger budget (show), I would always come back (to Four Seasons) because I really love them. ItB次元官网网址檚 the little things that matter, but they do it in a big way.B次元官网网址�

Shrek The Musical runs May 22 to 31 at the Isabelle Reader Theatre in Langford. Tickets and show times are available online at or by calling 250-478-0329.

alim@goldstreamgazette.com