The young cast of Darius the Dragon and Rap-Punzel gave their all to the final – and sold out - performance of Encore Stage and Studio’s latest production. I have taken my daughter to many local productions aimed at children and this was the first time we have attended a show that was actually performed by children. Children’s theater usually means adults dressed as children, but there’s something about children performing for children that is especially fun.

In the first part of the show, the audience is introduced to Darius, a medieval dragon, who is living beneath an urban park which is soon to be torn down to accommodate a parking garage.

When the bulldozers begin, Darius’ lair is disturbed and he is surprised to find a modern world filled with cars, noise, basketball and cornflakes when he emerges. He befriends a group of children who work together to save him from the mayor’s plan to ship him off to a national park. In the process, they save their park – and Darius’ home - from demolition.

The production was a little dialogue-heavy for my five year old to follow, but the plot didn’t seem to matter because she was enamored with the children on stage and a dragon as the main character. Eleven-year-old Laura Wade was hilarious as the chief of police and fifth grader Isabel Tate was another standout as the mayor.

After a brief intermission, we were introduced the familiar characters from Rapunzel. Rose Coolidge, 12, gave a standout performance as The Witch that was scary…but not too scary, and Ashley Britton made a charming Rapunzel. The dialogue in this version of the classic tale was rhythmic, hence the clever title, and Sophia spent the rest of the day trying to speak in rhymes. The actors had wonderful articulation, poise, comic timing and professionalism beyond their years. Most exciting of all, the cast was available after the show to sign autographs and Sophia waited patiently in line to have an opportunity to talk to Rapunzel.

Encore presents four productions annually geared toward children and performed by children ages 9-18. The crew is also comprised of young people ages 12-18. A summer production features young adults (ages fifteen and older) and is typically geared toward young adults and adults. Encore is enjoying a temporary home at The Rosslyn Spectrum Theater while their home base of Thomas Jefferson Community Theater in Arlington is being repaired after earthquake damage. Their next production, The Magical Lamp of Aladdin, begins Mar. 9^t and auditions for Charlotte’s Web begin on Mar. 12. If you have a child who enjoys acting, Encore Stage and Studio offers classes for children of all ages as well as pre-audition workshops for their productions.

Bravo to the cast and crew of Darius the Dragon and Rap-Punzel and thank you to Encore Stage and Studio for inviting the Patch to review the show!