Turns out that your mom was right: “Don’t judge a book by its cover.”

Just because Shrek is big, green, has weird ears, and has serious gas problems that leave people gasping and teary-eyed, doesn’t mean he can’t be a good guy with a heart of gold.

Munopco Music Theater’s production of “Shrek the Musical,” directed by Daniel Petrovich and based on a book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire, is action-packed, and packed with moral lessons from which anyone can profit. The play ran weekends, Sept. 18 - 26, at Scottish Rite Cath.

Shrek (Rob Clausnitzer) evolved from stay-at-home curmudgeon to knight errant. Clausnitzer’s strong voice is perfect and his portrayal of the odiferous hero is first-rate.

But being a hero isn’t easy, especially when Shrek’s parents, Papa Ogre (Sean McFarland) and Mama Ogre (Laura Jones), send Young Shrek (Jacob Miller) off to seek his fortune with their goodbye song, “Big, Bright, Beautiful World,” ringing in his horn-shaped little ears: “And just around the bend, There’s a friend or two, But not for you.” Miller’s Young Shrek is the epitome of cute.

McFarland and Jones also perform as Papa Bear, Mama Bear and appear, of course, with talented Baby Bear (Emily Bellfy).

Shrek’s sidekick, Donkey (Shy Torres) is a classic comic second-banana character with a big voice as she sings “Don’t Let Me Go”: “You don’t know what it’s like to be considered a freak!, Well, maybe you do, But that’s why we gotta stick together!”

Torres is bright and shiny in her performance. A particular highlight is her reaction when she crosses a narrow bridge when Shrek yells at her, “Don’t look down!”

Shrek’s beautiful love interest, Fiona (Monica D’Imperio), is energetic, charming and adaptable enough to change her first impressions of Shrek, and change enough to want a happy (though smelly) ever-after ending.

The Fiona character grows up on stage, with Young Fiona (Emily Bellfy) and Teen Fiona (Angelia Dries), all of whom are brimming with singing and acting talent. Bellfy (Baby Bear) and Dries (one of the 3 Blind Mice and Guard-Knight) also do extra duty as minor, but charming fairy tale characters.

Lord Farquaad (Kristofer Swanson) is brilliant as the arrogant, self-centered rival suitor for Fiona’s hand while being a convincingly imperious ruler of his little kingdom of Duloc from which he has banished the fairy tale creatures.

Farquaad’s costume is terrific. It’s a credit to costume manager and seamstress Connie Santos, who did a superior job with the costumes for the large cast, most of whom changed into several costumes during the production. One of Santos’ cleverest costumes was for the Dragon (Sue Matol).

Matol is terrifically terrifying as Dragon and, as Queen Lillian, stately.

Among the host of minor characters, two are particularly eye-catching. Michael Kirkland is versatile as King Harold, Thelonious and the Bishop. Jaedon Muhl is high-energy as the in-drag Big Bad Wolf. Gingy (Samantha Zosky) in her Ginger Bread Cookie costume looks delicious. Humpty Dumpty (Krystle Tate) turns in a delightful performance.

Pinocchio (Johnny Bertone), in spite of his tell-tale nose, plays a believable part. Elena Wenrich-Quinones is wicked good as Witch. The 3 Little Pigs (Zoli Heft, Victoria Spruiell, Tessa DeJesus) bring home the bacon in their roles.

Sets by Bret Oliveria and props by Michele Cerrone and Melissa Dorfinger are impressive. Dorfinger is also production manager.

The total effect of their efforts is spectacular. Combined with superior lighting by Jonathon Tobias, the play is Broadway-quality.

Information: www.munopco.org; 610-437-2441