Stanley the Stalwart Dragon

Childrens' Theatre, TYA / 7m, 7f, plus extras / Simple Set

Stanley, a young dragon, has run away from home. He feels that he is a failure. As dragons go, he probably is. He's kind, soft spoken, and a good friend. But he can't, for the life of him, breathe FIRE! A lady bug named Persnickety is Stanley's best friend and side kick. Emma is an earthling girl who lives on a farm and plays in the nearby forest with her magical friends. The loveable villain is a raven named City Slick, the Third. Thomas, the pedantic sea turtle, expresses himself in colorful seafaring lingo. Queen Cleo, queen of all the fairies. And Cheets, the effervescent elf.

One dark night Slick lures Stanley away from the forest and sells him to the circus. He is left chained, alone in a tent, until such time that hecan breathe fire. The Queen of the Faeries gives Donald and Emma a quest; to go and find Stanley and rescue him.

While this is an adventure story full of laughter and quirky characters, it also teaches children that no matter what, it is never a good idea to run away from home and is frequently very dangerous. The fable addresses bigotry, greed, loyalty and kindness to others.