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Photo by Mick Eagleson/The Advocate
Ember Dahl (left) runs through a scene with Ben Hare during a rehearsal for “The Emperor’s Dragon.” Dahl is portraying Tarao, the lead role in the play.
'Emperor's Dragon' lead gets ready to try new things
The Advocate
The role of Tarao in the fall MHCC production of “The Emperor’s Dragon” is a 10-year-old boy. Ember Dahl, the actor who will portray him, is not.
“One of my most recent notes was to learn to run like a boy,” Dahl said. “I didn’t realize they ran differently. I have to learn to act like a boy and hope I pull it off.”
However, it’s opportunities like this that drew Dahl to acting in the first place.
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“I just love acting,” Dahl said. “It’s a really fun thing to do. I get to be things most people don’t get to.”
This is Dahl’s second year at MHCC and her fourth production with the theater program.
“I’ve just been doing whatever I can,” Dahl said. She performed in last year’s Children’s Theater production of “Magic Theater,” assisted with costumes for “Guys and Dolls” and played the queen in “Antigone.”
However, with “The Emperor’s Dragon,” Dahl will have the new experience of starring in the lead role.
“I’m really excited,” Dahl said. “It’s something I’ve been wanting for a long time. I have to up my game a lot.”
According to Dahl, “A lot of it is trying to figure out who Tarao is.”
“You have to find that blend between an innocent child and an adult who’s accustomed to how life is,” she said.
Director Paul Navarro has been pleased with the way both Dahl and the character of Tarao have been progressing.
“I thought she had the potential to give to Tarao the depth that I wanted in him,” Navarro said. “She’s been willing to try new things and she takes direction really well.”
One of the new things includes the puppet dragon Yoshi.
“Yoshi is very interesting,” Dahl said. She will be one of the actors handling the puppet throughout the production.
“I think it’s just trying to make the dragon speak. So I have to think what Yoshi would say,” Dahl said. “I’m kind of playing two characters at once.”
Dahl said she has been drawn to the character of Tarao from the beginning, when Navarro had a read-through over the summer.
“I was reading the script and Tarao just seemed fun,” Dahl said.
In addition to exploring the character of Tarao and the new experiences the opportunity offers, Dahl is also excited about her intended audience.
“When you have their attention, kids are the best to draw energy from,” Dahl said. “They’re just excited to be there.”
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