Plays Written by Kids (and Performed by Adults)
Namron Players
7 p.m. Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday
Andrews Park Ampitheater | Norman
It’s not often that the presence of donut cops and a hipster Gandalf grace Andrews Park in Norman — at least not in the same evening. The Namron Players, a community-centered theater group, brings their latest performance out of the cupboard this weekend. Plays Written by Kids (and Performed by Adults) is, as you may have guessed, a series of stories written by the seventh graders of Longfellow Middle School and performed by the more “mature” members of Namron.
Sarah King Bartell, co-founder and chairman of Namron, has been involved in every production of the company’s four-year tenure. Bartell briefly described the role of Namron in Norman, as well as what to expect from their newest work.
Namron (Norman spelled backwards) emphasizes local talent, encouraging anyone with a willingness to learn to participate. Bartell feels that in the midst of this “artistic renaissance going around,” the role of Namron is vital in cultivating such an environment.
“We focus on producing works from local artists,” Bartell said, “from college students to older people who are out of school like myself and who may have given up on theater because they didn’t have an outlet.”
Namron has put on a slew of productions — like Flush and the Taylor Trap — that typically have been aimed at a more mature audience. With Plays Written by Kids, performed on a free and outdoor stage, Bartell seeks to encourage families to come as well.
Last year, Namron experimented with this style of play via Fantastical, a production centered more on children. The production brought in a wider audience that Bartell anticipated, making Fantastical one of the most heavily-attended productions to emerge from Namron.
Though it attempts to captivate a similar audience, Plays Written by Kids assumes a slightly different approach, not only in content but also in concept. After teaching a few classes to “get the led out” at Norman Middle Schools Arts Day over the course of three years, Bartell worked closely with young and enthusiastic writers. And after reading some of the students’ work, Plays Written by Kids seemed almost inevitable.
“Every time I read what [the kids] write I am so astounded,” Bartell said. “There’s no preconceived notion of narrative or anything — just what they want to see. This project has always been at the back of my mind: Just take some plays by kids and do it 110 percent with the education and finesse that comes with adult actors.”
Never telling the children what to write, the three plays were produced from an equal number of groups. The first selection involves a donut cop as he attempts to apprehend his nemesis the Long John, a nefarious pastry. The second episode traces a young girl as she attempts to reveal her true self to her peculiar yet loving grandmother. Finally, the last play pairs a modern Sherlock Holmes with the likes of Hipster Gandalf as the duo seek to save a group of penguins from extinction at the hands of an evil entity.
It may be silly at heart, but each play offer deep insight — in a hilarious fashion. Puns and witty banter serve as a vehicle for cultural commentary, self-doubt, and trying to be who you really are.
For the first time, Namron received a grant from the Norman Arts Council to help fund this community event, and its next two productions will receive similar funding. There’s no fee required for participating in Namron, just a willingness to learn and enjoy yourself.
