A Dragon's Tale – Musical at Harrowsmith Public School

Trying to corral young students towards one concentrated event is not necessarily an easy task for teachers, and a school as a whole, to take on at a time when the education system is under stress.

But with the production of A Dragon's Tale, led by teacher Danielle Harding with support from all the teachers and staff at the school, the students have been rehearsing, painting sets, designing lighting and working together on a project that culminated in two night time performances on Wednesday and Thursday of last week (April 15 and 16).

A Dragon's Tale was written in 1996, as a musical suited to school productions, and while the structure and some of the music has stood up well, Harding felt compelled to bring the narrative up to date.

The production that resulted, much to the delight of the school community who filled the school gym on both nights, was not only fast paced and full of charm, it was also an opportunity for the lead actors to shine.

And shine they did.

Chase Wartman, as Sir Hugh, portrayed a guy that you just love to hate, and Henry Pace as Jack, Claire Westendorp as Jay, and Charlotte Grundy as Jo, did a great job with body and facial language, letting the audience know what they thought of Sir Hugh’s superiority complex.

Meanwhile on the palace balcony, Emmie Forbnes as the Princess did a great job of showing her frustration at being under the protection of her mother the Queen, played admirably by Hayden Rose, and the stereotypical role of the passive princess her character was bumping up against. Avery Storms-Blakley as Mada, provided support, and cover for the Princess. Avey Groenewegen as Sir Walter, and Sam Stranak, as Sir Bryan, flopped and tripped and fell all over the place playing the two hapless would-be dragon slayers.

Ultimately, Sir Hugh reveals his true, insecure nature to the Princess. And while the original play reverts to stereotype at the end of the play, in this re-write by Harsding, it is the Princess who figures out how to control the dragon instead of Sir Hugh, and they part as equals at the end of the production.

A shout out to Brady Burns and Rowynn Clark, the voice and puppeteer, respectively, of Smugge the Dragon.

As with most musicals, the production numbers are as, or more, important than the story line itself, and this production did a good job of using the stage to enhance the singing with a lot of choreography that gave a cast of dozens a chance to express their own energy.

Among the very large cast, Lilly Wills, Kenzie Smith, Robin Davidson-Smith, Jamie Davidson-Smith, Andre Moser and Asher Plant played guards, and Summer McCaugherty, Brinley Kehoe, Savana Rose, Blake Shulist, Taya Calberry, and Jackson Gailor played Villagers.

A crew of dozens were behind the scenes making sure that the production numbers moved at a fast clip, and actors entered and exited the stage quickly.

It all led to an enjoya