Leader staff

Shrek The Musical JR. is a pretty ambitious show to be staging for a bunch of Grade 4, 5 and 6 students, but E.G. Wahlstrom School in Slave Lake managed to pull it off in fine style late last month. With a cast of 35, singing, dancing and acting, they put on an entertaining show for Slave Lake audiences, performing the play three times over a couple of days.

The story is described (by stageagent.com) as “a one-of-a-kind, hilarious fairy tale in which curses are reversed, monsters get the girls, donkeys and dragons find love, and princesses are beautiful in all shapes and sizes.”

Directed by Wahlstrom teachers Andy Cahill and Taylor Halbert, the work began last October with auditions, followed by many rehearsals. Cahill has a background in stage plays, and Halbert brought her many years of dance experience to bear. Also pitching in were other staff members, Cahill says, who were busy behind the scenes and helped out a lot.

As for the brightly-painted sets, Cahill gives “lovely Lynn Bain,” all the credit.

Costumes were another big part of the success of the production; all credit there, Cahill says, is to the parents of the cast members.

Carrying off such a project, with such young performers – especially when the directors are unfamiliar with the kids – Cahill calls “an interesting process,” adding, “it’s a pleasure to see them come alive,” as the production developed over the months since October.

Will there be another similar production next year at Wahlstrom? Too soon to say, Cahill says, but “I would like to.”