The human race is divided on many levels. From race to nationality to gender, there are dividing lines that continually perpetuate. It’s a sad reality of today’s global condition, but there are those who push for equality and understanding. And the theater department, in their latest staged endeavor, employs a dragon to underscore the dangers of intolerance.

The upcoming production of The Reluctant Dragon, based on the children’s book by Kenneth Grahame and adapted for the stage by Mall Hall Surface, follows the story of a peaceful dragon who prefers poetry, painting and a game of chess to fighting and eating people.

Prompted by the United Nations designation of 2000-2010 as a decade of peace and non-violence for the children of the world, director and Northwestern theater faculty member Lynn Kelso selected this play to help children understand prejudice and to find ways to resolve conflict.

“We chose The Reluctant Dragon because it addresses the types of prejudices and fears that people have for each other,” Kelso says in a press release. “With the world filled with turmoil and violence, many of us are full of fear. We may fear monsters, high places, deep water, people who are different from us or animals.”

The dragon, who resides in a cave near the town of Guildermere is blamed for all of the townspeople’s troubles – their dying crops, their curdling milk and the mysterious disappearance of their sheep.

“The townspeople pick on the poor dragon because they feel like they need an enemy and someone to blame,” Kelso says. “Because he is, in their eyes, entirely different, they consider him an easy target.”

When the youngest boy in the village befriends the dragon, however, he finds a gentle soul who breaks all the villagers’ dragon stereotypes.

“The play explores the power of friendship and how even the youngest of us can overcome fear,” Kelso says. “It has the great components of a medieval fable – a dragon, a knight and a child who becomes a hero. The three devise a plan to help the townspeople see the dragon in a positive light.”

Communication junior Ross Knorr is excited to be playing the role of the dragon.

“My passion is children’s theatre and (Dragon) is one of my favorite childhood stories,” Knorr says.

Knorr hopes that the children will be able to take away a positive perspective on people who are different from them. “The whole point of the play is an understanding of others and breaking of stereotypes,” Knorr says. “And that is what kids and adults in general should be aware of.”

As for his adorable plush outfit, Knorr has learned to love it. “I’ve never been hotter in a costume,” Knorr says. “I mean hottest temperature-wise and in handsomeness.”

Despite his dragonly demeanor, audiences will be able to see Knorr’s actual face, an aspect that, Kelso says, reinforces the play’s central themes of union and understanding.

“He is essentially human, just like everyone else who mistreats him and hopefully the showing of his face while in costume will help the children to realize this,” Kelso says.

The Reluctant Dragon is playing at the Josephine Louis Theatre, 20 Arts Circle Dr., April 7 at 8 p.m., April 8 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and April 9 at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $10 for students and children, $18 for seniors, faculty and staff and $20 for general public. Tickets are available at www.tic.northwestern.edu, or by calling the box office at (847) 491-7282.4

Medill freshman Taren Fujimoto is a PLAY writer. He can be reached at [email protected].