Get out of the rain and enjoy gorgeous costumes and skillful storytelling at Oregon Children’s Theatre’s latest show Dragons Love Tacos.
Oregon Children’s Theater’s Dragons Love Tacos is back, and once again, I am impressed by their ability to connect and tell a story to a wide range of ages. I brought two first-graders and a fourth-grader, and all three enjoyed the creative production. The script transforms the popular children’s book into a unique and creative production, with fun dances and a silly scientist/narrator.
The show begins with a cast member encouraging audience members to shout and sing along and get involved in the production. That gave all of us permission to loosen up, especially parents of little ones! Children shouting out favorite taco toppings is both encouraged and expected. In fact, it adds to the energy both onstage and off. There is a fun interplay between the audience and the stage—I love that my kids don’t have to be intimidated by theater or feel pressure to behave “properly.”
The story starts with a boy and his dog and his frustration with completing his homework. The boy’s mom leaves to pick up dinner and the duo watch a show teaching all the mysteries of Dragonology. The scientist entices them with fun facts about dragons and somehow enters into the boy’s house through the TV, which is in itself a cool and magical scene. They are visited by four dragons, creatively and uniquely costumed, and they enjoy a taco party and a mishap with accidental spicy salsa. The spicy salsa incident is the only scene in which a very young child might be slightly scared because the lights dim, but my first-graders were not concerned.
Most of this is acted out without words except for the scientist who also acts as the narrator. This makes the production very easy to follow. The pace is calm and lighting simple, which makes it a perfect experience for young kids. It was probably a little too simple for my fourth-grader, but he was still captivated by the costumes and the storytelling.
OCT does a wonderful job making theater accessible and fun for little kids. Their productions spur creativity and delight. My kids were singing and dancing as we walked home, on our way to make tacos (of course).
Because dragons aren’t the only one who love tacos.
Dragons Love Tacos runs through February 19, 2023.
It is recommended for all ages.
Tickets start at $22. ($5 Arts for All tickets available to those who qualify.)
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