HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2011-12-22, Page 37THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2011. PAGE 37.
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Continued from page 34somehow every year a play ends upon the stage and all the excitedchildren end up going home with the
right parents after they’ve been
entertained while off-stage.”
She said that, while the concert
can be a lot of work, all the staff
members are more than happy to get
involved.
“We have these kids six hours a
day,” she said. “We’re just like their
parents, we want to see them do well
and we want to see them feel
successful.”Watt said that the fact that theschool is able to use the BlythFestival’s assistance and put their
play on at Memorial Hall is a huge
boon.
“We’re so fortunate to have the
theatre and everything that comes
with it, it adds so much depth to all
the productions,” she said. “Moving
around the stage, getting the props
on and off there and getting the kids
into the right spots are so much
simpler than it would be if we used
the stage in the school.”Gole agreed, stating that it reallymeans a lot to the students to get tobe on the Memorial Hall stage.
“It’s one of those things that really
sticks with the kids,” he said. “All
year they see things there, and for
their show they get to know how
they happen. They get to be behind
the stage and see the dressing rooms
and everything.”
Watt agreed, saying that, for some
of the students, this will be the first
time they get to see Memorial Hall
from any angle except the seats.She said that one of her fondestmemories was a recurring numberthat was held at every annual concert
until recently and that it couldn’t
have happened anywhere but the
memorial hall.
“We always used to end with Let
there be Peace on Earth and the
students would be split up with some
on the balcony and some on the
stage,” she said. “It was like
surround sound and it was how we
ended every year.”
Eventually, the school began doing
more themed shows under the
direction of Jane Badham.
“Jane brought us all together with
one main story or theme,” Gole said.
“We’d do things like Christmas
around the world, and Santa on
Strike.”
“She really focused on the more
packaged concerts and plays,” Watt
said, agreeing with Gole. “It broughtmore of a focus to things.”This year’s play was no differentand was very impressive according
to both Watt and Gole.
“This year the costumes were just
amazing,” Watt said.
The school records the concerts
for staff and students alike to watch
since they’re all so involved in
producing the show, and according
to Gole, that’s a good thing.
“When you’re in play preparation
mode, it’s like a whirlwind of things
happening around you,” he said.
“You never know how things come
together, but they do. You look back
and say ‘What happened?’.”Brussels play stays classic,
features Gr. 3 students
Continued from page 36
those grades,” Gillespie said.
“I’m actually surprised it stops at
the Grade 4/5 class,” Wray said.
“Most plays I’ve been involved in
have stopped participation in the
Christmas concert by Grade 3.”
All the speaking parts are done by
actors from the Grade 3 class
with the other classes backing them
up.
“Traditionally that has been how
the school has done it,” Gillespie
said. “We have the Grade 3 students
take centre stage and have the other
classes focus on doing the music.”
Wray, who was responsible for
fitting people into the various roles
for the play, said that he was
fortunate in that most people got the
parts they wanted.
“We ran through the show a few
times with kids trying different
lines,” he said. “Half of them got the
part they wanted first and the rest got
their second or third choices.”
He said it was difficult to fit
everyone where they wanted to be,
and it was often difficult to fit people
into parts. He made reference to one
scene where there is a father and a
son but the heights of the two actors
don’t immediately identify them as a
different age.
“It was difficult to figure out who
would be where but not because of
trying to have the best person
leading or anything like that,” Wray
said. “There are a lot of talented
students here, it’s a very talented
group.”
Wray said that he was happy to be
able to provide the opportunity for
the students to get involved in a play
because they might not normally
have that chance.
Gillespie agreed, stating that there
was a lot of talent and that, often, the
students would surprise the two.
“We had eight kids who wanted to
be part of a particular number in the
concert, and we had to audition and
see who could sing and project their
voice and the two we picked really
impressed us,” she said. “A lot of
kids stepped out of their comfort
zone for the play and some surprised
us. You expect the very outgoing
kids to be great on the stage and then
they get all quiet while the kids who
are normally quiet just take centre
stage and bloom right in front of
your eyes.”
The students on stage aren’t the
only ones that help make the concert
a reality, however.
“It isn’t just the people on the
stage and the people putting on the
play,” Gillespie said. “All the
students and staff in the school put in
a huge effort. It’s a Kindergarten to
Grade 4/5 concert in name but,
really, it’s a school project.”
Wray agreed, stating that everyone
had to wear multiple hats to get the
job done, including pulling in
favours from other schools like
having a sound system on loan from
Listowel Central Public School.
Gillespie explained that, as an
example of everyone being involved,
Brussels Public School secretary
Diana Dolmage played a huge part
in preparing for the play by helping
to design and acquire many of the
props.
“She really does a lot to get the
plays ready,” Gillespie said. “It
wouldn’t happen without her.”
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A Merry Christmas
Deck
The
Halls!
M e rry Chri stma s
Jack & Heather
VanDorp
For unto us a Child is
born, Unto us a Son
is given; And the
government will be
upon His shoulder. And
His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor,
Mighty God, Everlasting
Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6
Memorial Hall plays big part in succesful Blyth plays
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