Princess Cimorene isn’t your ordinary diva of the high castle. In fact, she’s no diva at all. She’d rather play willing captive to a nest of giant dragons, where she can show off her keen skills as head chef, party hostess and librarian — and ultimately, adventurer and super-sleuth. When the good-natured Cimorene uncovers a plot to poison and replace the king of the dragons, it takes all her mettle and a colorful host of comrades — a good witch, a fellow princess and half-rock prince — to convince the dragon world of her honorable intentions. Fans of the classic young adult fantasy novel “Dealing With Dragons” by Minneapolis author Patricia Wrede will find much to love in its first-ever stage adaptation. They’ll also find a 2 1/2-hour run time that goes blessedly faster than it sounds, as well as an intermission at the 80-minute mark, a bit late in the game given that the magical but overly chatty encounters in the first act are mostly low-stakes. For the faint of heart, there’s an $8 livestream on select dates. Established by co-artistic directors Thalia Kostman and Marc Berg — who have been collaborating since 2016 — the nonprofit Phantom Chorus Theatre has made its imprint in physical, musical and experimental theater, often engaging large puppets and elaborate visuals in dark fables — think blacklight puppetry — and rock operas and other fare likely too edgy and abstract for tiny tots. For the all-ages “Dealing With Dragons,” Phantom has dropped the song and dance, as well as the spooky stuff, and fully embraced the spirit of children’s theater. A cast of six actors and seven puppeteers breathe life into three of the biggest and most convincing dragons you’ll ever see on stage, each with their own distinct plumage, accent and personality. Suppose there were no online program. In that case, one might not realize that the same actor — Will Schroeder — plays both the vain, self-involved prince who comes courting Cimorene and a stuttering, sympathetic character who is partially stone, so complete is his transformation from one rib-tickling role to the next. Phantom collaborated with Arts’ Nest, a group of organizations working together to support emerging playwrights and performers, for what audience members familiar with the source material are calling a faithful — perhaps too faithful? — adaptation of Wrede’s book of the same name. “Dealing With Dragons” won the 1991 Minnesota Book Award for Fantasy and Science Fiction and launched a four-part fantasy series. The stage version is Phantom’s first original adaptation and first full-length production with an intermission, and most shows are selling out. Yes, the length is a challenge, but the stakes and intrigue climb toward the end of the first act, when a nefarious djinn is released from a bottle, and they then climb again when Cimorene and friends finally piece together the deadly plot in the second act. One wishes that poof! — like magic — our heroine landed there a bit faster. Frederick Melo can be reached at [email protected]. ‘Dealing With Dragons’ When: Through Feb. 2 Where: Phoenix Theater, 2605 Hennepin Ave., Mpls. Tickets: $22-$14, or an $8 livestream, available at phoenixtheatermpls.org Capsule: A lengthy, all-ages magical mystery tour with fun elements for the whole family. Related Articles Theater | Theater review: Fear not, for ‘Leonardo!’ is one adorable monster movie Theater | Theater review: Guthrie’s ‘Heart Sellers’ a funny, touching quest for connection Theater | Review: ‘The Little Mermaid’ goes fairly swimmingly at the Ordway Theater | Review: The revised, post-George Floyd ‘Book of Mormon’ maintains its sharply satirical wit Theater | Theater review: Park Square’s ‘The Best Christmas Pageant Ever!’ is kid-friendly fun