​Local youth do stellar job in performance of Disney’s “Finding Nemo Jr.”

If you want to enjoy an hour of great music, fine acting and superb swimming, get a ticket to the Bruce County Students’ performance of Disney’s “Finding Nemo Jr.,” on the Kincardine Theatre Guild stage at the Kincardine Arts Centre in downtown Kincardine.

The show opened Friday, April 25, and captivated audiences throughout that first weekend.

This 60-minute musical adaptation of the beloved Pixar movie, “Finding Nemo,” features new music by award-winning song-writing team Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez.

The show tells the tale of Marlin, an anxious and over-protective clown fish, living in the Great Barrier Reef with his kid, Nemo, who longs to explore the world beyond their anemone home. But when Nemo is captured and taken to Sydney, Marlin faces his fears and sets off on an epic adventure across the ocean.

With the help of lovable characters, such as optimistic Dory, laid-back sea turtle Crush, and the supportive Tank Gang, Marlin and Nemo both overcome challenges on their journey to find each other and themselves.

The music is beautifully performed. In fact, you’ll find yourself singing along to “Just Keep Swimming,” “Go with the Flow,” and everyone’s favourite, “Big Blue World.”

The costumes are colourful, the set is breathtaking, and the young people are confident and stellar on stage.

Of particular note, are Ruby Wreford as Dory, the fish with the terrible short-term memory; Mira Moore as Nemo; Travis Brown as Marlin; Myles Fraser as Bruce the shark who must remember that fish are friends, not food; and Rowan Kransford as the cool and relaxed sea turtle, Crush.

They are joined on stage by Eva Thompson as Coral, Zoey Walton as Gill, Aria Plater as Bloat, Sophia Greco as Professor Ray and Gurgle, Lily Atkinson as Peach, Emma Brown as Bubbles, Karlene Griffin as Nigel, Elsie Harford as Tad, Robin Moffatt as Sheldon, Freyja Zandwyk as Pearl, Everly-Ryan Kerr as Chum, Abby Wright as Anchor, Ellodie Moore as Kai, and Lue Thompson as Breeze.

Also on stage, are the supporting cast playing numerous roles: Abigail Harford, Alyssa Levangie, Aubrey Campbell, Ava Emilie, Indy Marshall, Iris Dereniwski, Isla Saxton, Journey Stewart, Kayley MacKay, Mabel Herbert, Miyah Watson, Natalie Cumming, Paige Wright and Zoey Harker.

Praise goes to directors Erica Everingham and Larissa Ammar, and music director Victoria Boucher, for staging a fantastic production.

“Finding Nemo Jr.” continues May 2-3 at 7 p.m.; and May 4, at 2 p.m., at the Kincardine Arts Centre.

Tickets are $20 each; available at the Kincardine Theatre Guild box office, Thursday, 6-8 p.m.; and the Victoria Park Gallery, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The show is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International - book adapted by Lindsay Anderson, and music and orchestrations adapted and arranged by Myrna Conn.