Bodden Town Primary School had a ball with its production of Cinderella last weekend.
The ensemble cast of 45 students, trod the boards four times in the short and intensive run. Staged at the Prospect Playhouse, the production was an adaptation of the classical fairytale with bags of humour and a sprinkling of local flavour.
A large part of the script’s appeal was that the audience was given plenty of surprises along the way. ‘I borrowed from many sources with the help of friends when I drafted the show,’ said one of the production’s directors, Miss Karlene Buckle.
Actors aged between five and 11-years-old performed with gusto to the obvious delight of the audience. Alongside the friends and proud family members, seats were also filled by several education officials including several primary school principals, the chief education officer and the chief schools’ inspector.
For principal turned director Miss Buckle, the 90-minute show was the second time she staged the self-penned production.
‘I originally staged this adaptation five years ago for the Iona Preparatory School in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. I simply tailored it with a Caymanian audience in mind,’ she advised.
Cinderella was Cindy from Savannah, the Legislative Assembly was name checked as were other local landmarks including: Manse Road and Lookout Gardens.
Promoting literacy
The show was revived to complement the school’s ongoing literacy programme. ‘Literacy here relates to oral language development, critical thinking, speaking and listening to one another by exposing them to the theatre,’ said the principal.
Miss Buckle needed no time to answer what else she thought her students had gained from the experience. ‘Everybody that was part of the show learnt something. The kids in particular gained confidence.
‘They also learnt the value of team work, personal responsibility, time management and theatre craft,’ she suggested.
The show had unwittingly deepened her relationship with several parents. ‘They were amazing and supported the production in so many ways by accommodating our rehearsal schedule, the various changes and making sure the children were performance ready. Their support meant a lot for the school,’ she remarked.
‘My pupils are still riding high on the success of the production,’ Miss Buckle said on Tuesday.
The pupils faced stiff competition from classmates during the show’s auditions.
‘Everything came out at the auditions, held in front of judges one Saturday,’ Miss Buckle confided.
‘Each child had to read an excerpt from Peter Pan, dance a little and sing,’ she explained.
Memorable moments
Once chosen, the cast had two weeks to rehearse before their access to Cayman Drama Society’s stage.
The show in two acts boasted several Broadway tunes including ‘Stay Awake’ from Mary Poppins, and ‘Sixteen going on Seventeen’ from The Sound of Music’.
UV lighting was used with dramatic effect during two numbers namely the ‘Castle in a Cloud’ solo by Janell Taylor during which signing was used and during ‘Food Glorious Food’ from Oliver.
Directed by Miss Buckle, Kirk Rowe and Year 3 teacher Carol Nyack, the show included many memorable moments.
These started with a hilarious rendition of ‘There’s a hole in the Bucket’ from Cinderella (Amy Caum) and Wicked Step-mother Miss Jade (Tristina Robinson).
An extremely talented actor, Miss Robinson is a star in the making. The nine-year-old was utterly convincing as the malicious matron, which she played with aplomb. Humorous one minute and hateful the next every scene with her in it was a joy to watch.
Other strong performances were given by 10-year-old Jonathon Juggi in the role of the cheeky and love-struck valet Raphael, the Ugly Sisters – Gabriella played by Amy Powell and Madison performed by Areanna Bodden and the Butler/BT Vibrations TV presenter Bruce Gordon.
Kudos to the entire cast, too numerous to mention individually, who worked hard to pull each performance off.
Co-ordinating the production, too, must have been no mean feat. Hats off to Stage Manager Scimone Campbell Year 2 teacher, Kirk Rowe who as well as directing was the show’s choreographer, Musical Director Noel Wallace for keeping our toes tapping and to CDS stalwarts: Paul de Freitas and Ian Morgan – Lighting and Sound Engineer Helen Godfrey – Sound.
Judging by the favourable post performance chat, it will not be a stretch to fill the house when the production returns in December.
A Christmas version of the show is currently slated to run for a week followed by a weekend tour of the Brac.
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