Olympic Theatre Arts’ ‘The Reluctant Dragon’ cast, in rehearsal

By Sequim Gazette Staff • July 31, 2019 1:30 am
From left, Grayce Houle, Maia Brewer, director Bonne Smith and Hunter Halverson work on lines for the upcoming Olympic Theatre Arts production of “The Reluctant Dragon.” Photo courtesy of Olympic Theatre Arts
From left, Grayce Houle, Maia Brewer, director Bonne Smith and Hunter Halverson work on lines for the upcoming Olympic Theatre Arts production of “The Reluctant Dragon.” Photo courtesy of Olympic Theatre Arts

Minus a Growler or two, the quiet of the Pacific Northwest coast seems to make a perfect spot for Fred the Dragon to spout poetry rather than spewing fire.

“The Reluctant Dragon,” the fifth production of the Olympic Theatre Arts Children’s Theater program, is a comic take on the serious subject of knowledge and being accepted for one’s differences and hailed for one’s abilities.

The children’s play, adapted by Ed Monk and based on a story by Kenneth Grahame, was recently cast with 15 youth actors playing characters who mostly live in the village of Veesaldorf. The characters shed light on how misunderstandings can have severe consequences.

“This is a great cast,” director Bonne Smith said. “These kids show up with a determination not only to learn their parts but also to give it their all at telling a joke and finding their timing and rhythm and developing their own character.”

Fred the Dragon, played by Grayce Houle in her second OTA Children’s Theatre Summer production, deals with the complications of others’ misunderstandings throughout the play, where the Dragon takes action to protect himself and his new-found friendship with a farm girl named Charity.

“I like it, it’s fun!” said Houle. “We all like acting here. We have big imaginations and we can express ourselves. And Fred’s not really afraid of what other people think of him. He just wants to get out and be himself, write his poems and share them with the world.”

Eight-year-old Maia Brewer plays Charity Cowfarmerman in her debut performance with OTA’s Childrens’ Theatre. With help Charity and her faith in friendship, the pair set out to challenge old beliefs and usher in the celebration of acceptance, polka style.

“I actually live on a farm,” said Brewer. “And I like to read. And I just like doing Charity – it’s fun.”

Dad, portrayed by Ashton Drew, sets the story on fire when he stumbles upon the secret lair of Fred the Dragon. Drew played the Mathemagician in last year’s production of “The Phantom Tollbooth.”

“I’m really excited,” said Drew. “As “Dad” I get to be really big and out there. I can do a lot of really different things with that.”

Veteran OTACT youth actor Kenzie Camp, last seen at OTA as “The Humbug” in last year’s “The Phantom Tollbooth,” plays Mayor Leech, who dices and slices language without regard to the sensitives of whose culture she shreds. The ignorant bliss of entitlement is worn proudly by Mayor Leech.

“The Humbug was an eccentric character a lot like the Mayor, but with different kinds of extremes,” said Camp. “The Mayor is a lot more air-headed and ditsy.”

The Knight, played by Hunter Halverson, who played the Admiral in OTACT’s 2016 production of Captain Bree Scourge of the Sea, returns to the stage to champion the town of Veesaldorf in its quest to scour the forest of the threatening presence of a Dragon.

The Squire, played by first time actor to the OTACT stage Gavin DeAngelo, tries to maintain the brave Knight’s reputation because he is motivated by employment.

Cast members also include Sadie Cantry as Scoop, Indi Mixon as Jenkins, Madeline Adams as Sam, Addison Drew as Joe, Emily McAliley as Mom, and the Miltia characters played by Roland Mayrey, Alester Knapp, Owen DeAngelo, and Banyan Nelson.

While OTA’s building is occupied by a musical intensive course for teens, the cast of “The Reluctant Dragon” has been rehearsing at KSQM Radio in their newly acquired community room, which has been a huge help to the program. “All of us at KSQM are very excited and satisfied to see the OTA Summer Children’s Theater workshop rehearsing here,” said Richard Hendrickson, a KSQM volunteer and radio announcer. “We are looking forward to see the final product on stage at OTA at the end of summer to help kick off the 2019-20 OTA theater season.”

The Reluctant Dragon runs from August 23rd to September 1st, 2019. Performance times are Friday and Saturday at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. A Pay-What-You-Will show for any and all budgets is Thursday, August 29th at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, August 25th is a Talkback show where audiences can stay after the performance and talk to the kids about the production.

Tickets are $15 for the general public, $13 for OTA members, and $12 for students with school identification card, and are available at the theatre box office from 1-5pm, Monday through Friday or online at www.OlympicTheatreArts.org. For further information, call the theatre at 360-683-7326.