Whidbey Playhouse stage lights open on a contented hobbit sitting in his hobbit hole, unaware of the guest that will soon arrive and the adventure that will take him “there and back again.”

It is an adventure that will involve dwarfs, family treasure, a mysterious wizard and an ancient map. It will bring the hobbit and his traveling companions to the fireside of trolls, the dark passageways of cave goblins and eventually into the treasure strewn lair of a flesh-eating dragon.

From April 28 to May 7, Whidbey Playhouse presents J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit.” Adapted into a children’s script by Brainerd Duffield, Playhouse directors Rebekka Handscheke and Kathryn Young took “The Hobbit” and created two complete casts of dwarfs, elves, wizards, hobbits, trolls, goblins and other creatures. To fill the roles of all these creatures, the playhouse trained and costumed 48 local children.

After the final dress rehearsal for Cast A, Monday, April 25, Young said the children had a few fumbles, but that is what dress rehearsals are for.

“Tonight was the night to make the mistakes,” Young said.

Young said usually after dress rehearsal, actors have a better idea of what the final product should look like, they have performed it before an audience and know what lines need rehearsing and what movements and technicalities need work.

Young said the kids will probably go home rehears their lines and come back well prepared for the first night of production.

Even with a few forgotten lines and some technical glitches, young actors said they felt very optimistic about the dress rehearsal results.

“Actually, out of a ten, I’d give it a six,” said Nick Kang, 14, who plays Gandalf the Wizard.

Austin Sines, who played Gullom, said he felt the group did well in the dress rehearsal, especially since the children had never practiced in full costume or makeup before.

“For the first time we put it all together we did pretty good,” said Jake Sele, who plays the hobbit Bilbo Baggins.

Out of the 48 children acting in Cast A and B of the Hobbit, some come as veterans of the stage, and others are just debuting.

Emma Remaly, 6, who plays Smowg the mighty dragon, said this is her first time in a large production.

In the dress rehearsal, the petite Remaly, wearing a dress of beads and scales, points her finger and demands to know why Bilbo has come into her cave to bother her. For a novice, she learned the dramatics of the stage well.

Remaly said she had to learn 20 lines for her part, and is still perfecting them.

“Its a little tricky,” she said, shaking her head.

Even young actors who had played in previous productions had to stretch themselves for the Hobbit.

“I like the troll scene,” said Keri Jerde, 10, who plays the troll Pug.

Jerde not only plays the role of a troll, but she plays a goblin as well. Both are characters that add antics, humor and unconventional style to the classic tale, due to the director’s creative license and Jerde’s creative expression.

Even though the actors had only completed their dress rehearsal, spirits were high. And dwarfs and elfs chattered about how the felt they had done in preparation for this weekend’s opening night.

“It was fun doing it,” said Carli Coeuille, who plays the part of Elfrida the Elfin Queen. And her sentiments echoed from several other young voices.