Large cast brings ‘Reluctant Dragon’ to local arts center

The Rainbow Company Youth Theatre will present "The Reluctant Dragon" Friday through June 14 at the Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush St.

Based on the popular children's book by Kenneth Grahame, the show will be performed at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and June 11, 12 and 13, as well as 2 p.m. Sunday and June 13 and 14. Tickets, priced at $7 general admission, $5 for teens and seniors, and $3 for children ages 12 and younger, are available at the center box office from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturdays.

For more information, call 229-6383.

The comic folk tale, directed by Karen McKenny, features a cast of 16 including Gabriel Gentile as the dragon, Randy Messaoudi as St. George and Sean Harasti as Glaston.

The production focuses on the villagers of Guildermere, who blame the dragon who lives nearby for everything that goes wrong in their lives. The dragon, a peace-loving, poetry-spouting soul, would prefer a cup of tea to a battle, however.