Tall tales land brothers onstage at festival

PLEASANT GROVE — Sharlee Glenn doesn't get upset when her boys tell tall tales. In fact, she encourages it.

The bigger the story, the more exaggerated, the better.

That's what makes 12-year-old Patrick Glenn and 10-year-old Dylan Glenn so good at storytelling. They're both on the schedule to share their stories at the 14th Annual Timpanogos Storytelling Festival in Orem this weekend.

"The secret is expression and not being too scared," Patrick Glenn said. "You want to make it loud enough too so people can hear you."

"It's having good stage presence," said Dylan.

With his golden saxophone hanging around his neck, Patrick tells a story about an ace detective searching to find the lovely Lucinda. The clues lead him to an out-of-this-world conclusion.

The high points of the story are accented along the way with musical passages from "The Pink Panther," "Star Wars," and some Jamaican blues.

Dylan retells the spine-tingling story of Lewis Carroll's "Jabberwocky," complete with swashbuckling swordplay and a hint of creepiness.

His enunciation is flawless, even getting around words like "brillig" and "gyre and gimble in the wabe."

"This is a child who was using phrases like 'essentially vacuous' when he was 5," said his mother. "He's been in theatrical productions since he was 2."

Both boys credit their mother for keeping them busy and their father for setting the pace.

Jim Glenn has appeared in a number of stage productions. Sharlee Glenn helped write Patrick's story and works with each one on their movements, expression and interpretation.

The boys attend the Timpanogos Academy, a charter school, and they've both participated in the Utah Children's Choir.

Patrick also takes music lessons at Crescent Music School.

When he received a saxophone for his 11th birthday, he decided to work it into a story and audition for a spot. It's kind of hard to keep focused on the story and the music, he said, but he manages by concentrating after a lot of practicing.

Dylan has been involved in the storytelling festival before, following the footsteps of his big sister, Erica. Last year, he did an original story but decided to do "The Jabberwocky" after he won a poetry reading contest at school.

Will they sign autographs at the show?

They agreed: If anybody asks.

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