Hand the green stuff over at the box office in the coming days and you'll get something green in return – a ticket to sit back and watch the take ogre of Milton Keynes Theatre by Shrek the Musical.
It seems aeons since the venue first announced the swamp-dweller was heading to these parts, but the wait over – the curtain rose for the first time on Tuesday evening (August 18).
Based on the blockbusting film by Dreamworks, Shrek is the unlikely hero, an ogre on a quest to rescue the beautiful – and rather temperamental – Princess Fiona from a fire-breathing, love-sick dragon.
He is ably assisted on his mission by his great pal, Donkey.
But as fans of the film will know already, there is more – a gang of fairytale misfits and the diminutive Lord Farquaad also feature.
Say hello to the Three Little Pigs, Pinocchio, Three Blind Mice (in stockings and carrying white sticks), a tortured gingerbread man and a cross-dressing wolf.
Shrek began life in the book by William Steig and has since wowed all over the world – including the Broadway and West End stages.
Now it's Milton Keynes that gets the musical marvel for a full three weeks.
Dean Chisnall returns as the hero Ogre, in a role he has previously delivered in the West End.
Bronté Barbé is Princess Fiona, Idriss Kargbo is cast as sidekick donkey and Gerard Carey is Lord Farquaad
It's fair to say the box office has been erm, swamp-ed by enquiries to view the Shrek-tacular.
Tickets start at £15 and you get them by booking online at www.atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes or by calling 0844 871 7652.
