The Yorkshire Playhouse’s production of Queen Zixi of Ix is a powerhouse performance that has so many good things it may be easier to say what it does not have. But what it does have is a general, a witch, fairies, wishes, kings and princesses, and those are just the tip of the iceberg of what this play has to offer. This is the second largest cast director John Baker has directed with 60 kids. The play ironically with the largest cast is another Frank L. Baum book The Patchwork Girl of Oz. 

To give audiences just a little taste of how good this play is I will have to go to the author himself.  This book is Frank L. Baum’s favorite book out of the fourteen books Baum wrote.  He wanted to make what he called an “American Fairy Tail”.  The story revolves around a magic cloak that can grant anyone one wish and the kingdom it resides in. All of the kids have been working hard for this performance putting in hours and hours of practice so they can put on a good show for their friends, family and community. The kids are not the only ones working hard.  Director John Baker, Assistant Director Bethany Miller, and Apprentice Assistant Director, and also Tollydob, Deidre Freitas have also put in lots of hard work.  This group effort all comes together to make something truly magical. Another reason that this play is special is that it is the fifteenth year Children's Theatre has been teaching kids the fun of theatre. I was honored to be a part of this cast and it will be one of the highlights of my summer.

~ Written by Quentin Spencer, who will also be playing Tollydob, the lord high general in this production.