The popular story about dragons and their food rules is a taco party on stage at Oregon Children’s Theatre.
As my daughter’s first introduction to live theater, Dragons Love Tacos was fun, silly, and everything a little kid could ask for in a production. Oh yeah, and there were plenty of tacos, of course.
The plot of the book is pretty straightforward. Dragons love tacos. But they don’t like spicy salsa, what with the whole breathing-fire trait.
In the book, you may have noticed, there’s no dialogue. For the Oregon Children’s Theatre’s production, that’s where the charismatic narrator comes in. He guides the boy character and his dog through the secrets of “Dragonology.” Most of the comedy is directed towards the kids. However, there are a few one-liners in there to keep it entertaining for the grown-ups in the crowd, too.
One might think that dragons would be scary, but these dragons are way more fun (obviously, if they like tacos and parties, right?). The costumes give each of our four dragon friends their own persona which shines through in their individual interactions with the audience.
The set feels like the inside of the children’s book. Well-timed sound effects, short bursts of music, and interactive portions make this a fantastic choice for kids of all ages. There’s nothing quite like an entire theater of children yelling out taco toppings.
My 3.5-year-old, Roslin, went with me, and it couldn’t have been more perfect. I appreciate that Oregon Children’s Theatre is kid-friendly in the best kind of way. I didn’t have to worry about making sure she kept quiet or stayed perfectly still. Moreover, Dragons Love Tacos moved quickly enough that she was always engaged with another action on stage.
After the performance, there was a long line to meet the actors. We waited and it was well worth it. Even though they had just put on an entire performance, and they had spoken to hundreds of kiddos, the cast was just as engaging, charming, and kind as if my daughter had been the first in line. They asked her questions, signed her program, and thanked us for coming.
We caught the 5 pm show, which timed perfectly with getting dinner afterward and making it home in time for bed. I’m pretty sure it was a hit with Roslin because, wouldn’t you know it, we had to read Dragons Love Tacos before bed and she told me all about her favorite parts of the show.
Oregon Children’s Theatre’s Dragons Love Tacos is running through February 16 at the Newmark Theatre.
January 18–February 16, 2020
Saturdays at 2 pm & 5 pm
Sundays at 11 am & 2 pm
Runtime: 60 minutes
Recommended for all ages
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