U-City Theater Production Gives Young Talent A Chance To Shine

Jesse Kendall, 11, has discovered a wonderful trick.

When you’re shy - which this sixth-grader sometimes is - you can act as if you’re not. And pretty soon your shyness goes away.

Kendall doesn’t sound a bit shy when he’s on stage in “The Reluctant Dragon,” now in performance at the University City Shopping Center. He plays the role of Jon, defender of a visiting, friendly dragon who likes to write poetry.

To be honest, the stage used by the Theater Arts for Children is such a low-key kind of place that neither actors nor audience have much reason to be intimidated.

Young children are encouraged to sit on the floor in front of the chairs, and cookies are on sale along with the tickets.

The theater is next to KayBee Toys in the mall. Shows of The Reluctant Dragon will will start at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. this Saturday and next; and at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $2.50.

Kendall describes his character as strong to know that his mother and father are both “a bit out of it.” Another boy in the village, Ulrich, is bent on causing trouble for the dragon.

“Jon is one of the few characters who can speak up and tell Ulrich his behavior just isn’t appropriate,” Kendall says.

Remember, this is an 11-year-old talking.

At any rate, by the play’s conclusion, the dragon’s future is secure.

Kendall has a thorough case of the theater bug. Keeping up with his school work at Chester Elementary and rehearsing tires him out. Memorizing a script doesn’t come easy for him. But on show day he’s just as likely to be simply excited, rather than nervous.

He’s acted in the Spokane Children Theatre’s production of “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.” (“It’s more difficult to be on the Civic Theater stage in front of 100 people than at the Theater for Performing Arts,” he says.) He’s all ready to forsake Spokane and move to New York or California, where there are more chances for acting.

For now, though, he makes a fine companion to a jolly good dragon.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo