Quite the variety of literary characters will take the stage March 11 at Fairview Elementary School.
With a cast of 29 students, third grade teacher Angel Ambrosius is directing the upcoming play, “The Magic Book.” The play is about two typical kids who hate reading. However, when their grandmother makes them read one rainy day, it opens a whole new world full of interesting characters and adventure.
“For me to pick a play, it has to teach a lesson, it has to be child-oriented and entertaining,” Ambrosius said. “These are the most drama-filled children you’ll ever see. It’s never dull, but it’s really a lot of fun. The performance during the day in front of their peers gets the kids worked up and excited, and you see their best performance.”
On March 11, the young performers will take the stage in front of their peers, but at 6:30 p.m., the performance will be for the general public, families and friends.
“I think it’s really good for sixth graders,” said Rebecca Eck, sixth grader.
Eck plays the legendary character, Rumplestilskin. She said this play has some interesting costumes.
“Mine’s scary,” Eck said of her costume. “I have to hold an axe and chase kids.”
Sixth graders Kaitlin Hance and Taylor Vaughn said they were intrigued by the characters they play; Heidi and Goldie Locks.
“We’re quite the bad girls,” said Hance with a grin. “They’re so sweet in the other stories. We also have to hang on a fourth grader. It’s kind of weird we have to do that, but it’s for the play.”
“We’ll get a lot of laughs,” chimed in Vaughn. “We want it to be good.”
The students said they have been practicing during recess time to perfect their lines and actions on stage.
“It’s not so bad because we have fun,” Hance said.
“Yeah, it’s for the sake of the play,” added Vaugh. “My mom says I’m really dramatic.”
This year makes the fifth year for the spring play, which is sponsored by the Alliance of Southwest Missouri. Ambrosius said only with the help of the Alliance, Ginger Baugh, Beth Arthur, Mindy Estes, Kim Splitter and Kerissa Walker, is the play possible.
“If it weren’t for these people, there would be no play,” Ambrosius said. “They really work hard on the costumes, the set, the props and the atmosphere. There’s no way I could do this by myself. They really care about the kids and it shows.”
