‘The Reluctant Dragon’

Times: 6:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, Aug. 23-Sept. 1

Special show: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 29, Pay-what-you-will

Tickets: $12-$15 at box office 1-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, door or online

Location: Olympic Theatre Arts, 414 N. Sequim Ave., 360-683-7326 www.olympictheatrearts.org

Notes: Adapted by Ed Monk; based on a story by Kenneth Grahame; directed by Bonne Smith

Fred stands out in Veesaldorf. He loves sweets, poetry and he’s a giant green dragon.

But with the help of Charity, Fred ushers in a new era of acceptance in their tiny village.

The slapstick comedy “The Reluctant Dragon” is OTA’s fifth Children’s Theater program that actors believe bridges comedy and its core messages well.

“It’s hilarious,” said 15-year-old Kenzie Camp, who plays Mayor Leech.

“(People) will laugh. It’s just fun.”

Shows begin at 6:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Aug. 23-24 and 30-31; 2 p.m. Sundays, Aug. 25, Sept. 1, at Olympic Theatre Arts, 414 N. Sequim Ave.

A special “Pay-what-you-will show” runs at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 29.

The Aug. 25 show features a “Talkback” session where audiences can stay after the performance and talk to the cast.

This summer’s show features 15 actors ages 7-16, and Camp said show director Bonne Smith helps the young ensemble flourish onstage.

“It adds a depth of hilarity that wouldn’t work if it was all older kids,” she said.

Camp said there are multiple things viewers can take away from the play: that friends are important, and being different isn’t bad.

“There’s a lot to it,” she said. “Just because you look like you have power doesn’t mean you do. Fake it till you make it doesn’t work.”

For her mayoral role, the soon-to-be 11th grader at Sequim High School said this is the first role she feels she’s given a distinct voice.

“I feel like she’s the black sheep,” Camp said.

Camp has been involved in OTA’s Children’s Theater since 2015 and feels they are more accepting of people of all types.

She didn’t have a set role in mind for the play, but said she trusts Smith to choose right for her.

“I get attached to a role after I’m cast,” Camp said.

Eight-year-old Roland Mabrey, a soon-to-be a third grader at Roosevelt Elementary in Port Angeles, said he likes the different facets of acting and behind-the-scenes.

“I have four lines and I start a dance number,” he said.

Mabrey is head of the militia against the dragon, but finds his militia members are more ridiculous than anything.

“It’s super funny and the characters are super cool,” he said.

For the upcoming show, Mabrey said, “I’m 90 percent excited and 10 percent nervous.”

Smith said they’ve placed the play in the Pacific Northwest and use native plants and trees for backdrop, including Sweet Gale.

She said while reading a Peninsula College textbook “Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast,” she discovered that under Sweet Gale it alludes that it was used for some purpose by Sasquatches.

“If it can have Sasquatches, it can have dragons,” Smith said.

Cast members include: Grayce Houle as Fred the Dragon; Maia Brewer as Charity; Camp as Mayor Leech; Indi Mixon as Jenkins; Maddie Adams as Sam; Addison Drew as Sam; Ashton Drew as Father; Emily McAliley as Mother; Gavin De Angelo as Squire; Hunter Halverson as knight; Sadie Canty as Scoop; Mabrey as Head of Militia, and Alester Knapp, Owen De Angelo and Banyon Nelson as militia members.

Tickets cost $15 for general admission, $13 for OTA members, and $12 for students with school identification card, and are available at the theatre box office from 1-5 p.m., Monday-Friday or at www.OlympicTheatreArts.org.

For more information, call 360-683-7326.

Reach Matthew Nash at mnash@sequimgazette.com.

The Mayor, Kenzie Camp, comes up with an idea to stop the dragon as Jenkins (Indi Mixon) and Father (Ashton Drew) listen in during “The Reluctant Dragon.” Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash

Olympic Theatre Arts’ “The Reluctant Dragon” runs weekends Aug. 23-Sept. 1 featuring local children actors in a comedy that talks about the importance of friends. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash

Fred the Dragon (Grayce Houle) prefers yoga over controversy as Charity (Maia Brewer) tries to convince him that the towns people might hurt him in “The Reluctant Dragon.” Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash

Charity (Maia Brewer) and her Mother (Emily McAliley) listen to Father (Ashton Drew) spin a yarn about the dragon he just saw. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash