An enthusiastic preview audience took in “The Rise and Rise of Daniel Rocket” by Peter Parnell, opening at the Butler Little Theatre this weekend. A surprisingly delightful show with a dynamic cast proved for a thought-provoking and entertaining theater experience.

The show opened with the characters portraying sixth graders in a school yard. The classmates were a mixture of boys and girls some friends and others on the fringe. The actors portrayed the coming of age with new discoveries and the encounter with the extraordinary.

Grant Allen Clark offered a up a believable performance of Daniel Rocket, the outsider, a boy who believed he could fly. His conviction in the possibility of the feat was shared by his best friend and only friend, Richard, portrayed by Montana Simpson. The pair had some introspective conversations as much as young teens could have but their connection was palpable.

The trio of boys who often made jokes about Daniel were portrayed by Cody Nagle as the nasal and sensitive Jefferey, John Carlson as Roger and Justin Anderson as Steven, the more bully of the bunch. The lighthearted schoolyard and classroom banter turned a bit more intense as they learned the true secret of Daniel Rocket.

The school girls were played by Allison Marie Torres who played Penny the flirt of the group, Laila Tyler as Claudia the sweet shy one and Samantha Roth as Judy. The role of Alice who becomes the woman in the middle was portrayed by Molly Miller. Before Daniel flies away from his childhood he pressures Alice into some promises he intends for her to keep.

Act Two introduced the cast 20 years later as they were waiting for their famous former classmate to return to town. Though the cast aged, they weren't as changed as one might have thought. And fame and fortune did not offer the peace that Daniel had hoped.

Their teacher portrayed by Michelle Steiner had said that people always change when they get older, but the changes aren't always for the better as the town would discover.

The cast of classmates had great chemistry and exuded confidence in portraying both children and adults. The young cast was full of energy and possibility and under the direction of Stefan Lingenfelter delivered the goods.

Wonderful sets made of Styrofoam and paper were an excellent backdrop for a lively and entertaining story about how people deal with things they cannot quite understand and how experiencing the extraordinary can cause unexpected changes.

Tickets are available online at www.bltgroup.org or at the theater if available the day of the show. “The Rise and Rise of Daniel Rocket” runs through March 17th.

WHAT: “The Rise and Rise of Daniel Rocket”WHEN: March 9 to 17; 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and ThursdayWHERE: Butler Little Theater, One Howard St.COST: Tickets cost $13, available online at www.bltgroup.org