Glancing up from the yellow program absentmindedly taken at the door, you see the curtain begin to rise, and…the sets — what’s wrong with the sets? The colors, and then the laughter — it’s immediate, contagious, and completely captivating, especially the pig-tailed blob of cuteness giggling in her seat next to you.

This is no ordinary play. And no wonder, it’s not supposed to be. It’s a children’s play, and children do not complain about plot discrepancies, ridiculous costumes, cutout sets, and haywire actors and actresses. In fact, they like it better that way. With this in mind, the MHCC Theater Department has begun production on their annual children’s play.

This year, the play is “Reasons to be Cheerful,” a series of 15 short sketches, each with its own story, comedy and delightful imagery. The sketches range widely including a bicycle race, a magic show, a gymnastic skit and a story about the importance of taking your medicine. The sets will be simple, cardboard cutouts, therefore utilizing art that younger elementary students will identify with. MHCC’s theater arts director, Rick Zimmer, deems it a “standard children’s show” with the focus age group being kindergarten through third-grade.

For such a lighthearted project, Zimmer wanted a lighthearted cast. Auditions were held the first week of school to cast the 12 roles. Besides the obvious theatrical talents such as movement and timing, he sought those who had the ability to loosen up and get in touch with their kid side.

Students were not only required to read from the script, and do some of the physical acting, but a little improvisation was also necessary.

The department has been performing children’s shows for more than two decades, and the response from area schools is witness to their success. Of all the schools that attended last year, only five failed to answer their initial invitation, and now as tickets are selling out, all but four are returning to watch this year’s play.

By the last performance 3,000 children from as far away as The Dalles will have been bused into MHCC to watch. Zimmer has great expectations for the play’s success. He hopes the kids will be entertained and enjoy themselves and the teachers will be pleased with the quality being presented to their students. When all of this is accomplished, Zimmer expects they will return again next year.

“Reasons to be Cheerful” plays Nov. 7, 9, 14, 16, and 18 at 10:30 a.m. and Nov. 19 at 2 p.m. For ticket information, call (503) 491-6969.