Lucas Adcock
Staff Writer
There was a packed house at the Pocahontas County Op-era House last weekend for the Missoula Children’s Theatre performance of “The Frog Prince.”
No, this wasn’t a real frog-turned-Prince, but a wonderful play put on by the Missoula Children’s Theater, and some of the county’s most talented children and adults. Adapted by Michael McGill, the play told a story of a lonely frog – played by both Shelldon Maitland and John McCarty – in his swamp who retrieves a golden ball for Princess Prim – played by Zoe Guamis Alkakos – in exchange for friendship and comfort. The Princess, however, refuses to live up to her part of the bargain merely for a helping hand, and places her royal Knights on alert.
After experiencing this rejection of friendship, the swamp frog travels to the wise old Aspen tree for advice, somewhere deep, deep in the wood. In his journey, he encounters the kindly Swamp Things and the well-read Alligator, who all have their own advice about friendship to offer.
While the frog’s kindly servant tirelessly tries to set things right, more visitors to the swamp come to frog’s assistance: the Ducks, a busy Fly, and the dancing Flamingos. Even two kind individuals known as Princess Proper and Princess Peppy become involved in the rising tension between the Frog and Princess Prim.
Despite the trouble in the swamp caused by the mischievous Venus Fly Traps, the Frog eventually finds his way. The Frog becomes a Prince after realizing that friendships are not bought, but made. Ultimately, the message leaves us with: “It is not what you are, but who you are that counts.”
The play was a huge success with a full house, and congratulations go out to all those who were involved, from all the volunteers, to sponsors, the writers and the cast. The play was a pure joy to experience, not only the play, but watching the children enjoy it as they performed. It was fun, light- hearted and full of song.
Pocahontas County and the opera house have been enriched from the experience of hosting the Missoula Children’s Theatre each year.
