Students from SESS are set to
get onto the stage in this year’s
musical production of Into the
Woods.
Although theatre goers will recognize
several beloved fairytale
characters a major plot twist makes
the story almost unrecognizable
from the classic stories so many
grew up reading.
The public can watch the show
on January 6 and 7 in the elementary
gym at 7 p.m.
The tale revolves around the
Baker and his wife’s desire to have
a child. Unfortunately a curse was
laid upon the Baker’s family by
a witch who found the Baker’s
father robbing her garden when his
mother was pregnant.
The Baker’s father stole some
beans which caused the Witch’s
mother to punish her with the curse
of ugliness.
The Witch offers to lift the curse
that has left the Baker and his Wife
barren, but only if they obtain four
items, a cow as white as milk, a
cape as red as blood, hair as yellow
as corn, and a slipper as pure
as gold.
The demand means the Baker
and his wife go of into the woods
in search of the items. On their way
they meet Jack, who is selling his
beloved cow. They also meet Red
Riding Hood, who is of course
wearing a red cape; Rapunzle whose
tower the Baker’s wife passes in the
woods and Cinderella, who runs
into the Baker’s wife while fleeing
from the pursuing Prince.
Michelyn Lepage, a Grade 11
student, plays the Baker’s Wife.
“The main story is that the Baker
and his Wife want to have a child.
We go through the woods and meet
different people so we can lift the
curse,” she said.
Lepage has performed in other
productions at the school most
recently two years ago in Big Bad
Musical.
“I loved it. I was part of a
production a few years ago and it
was so much fun,” she said. “The
hardest part is learning the lines
especially when you’re in Grade 11
and you have a lot of work.”
Daxon Helm plays Jack. This is
his first acting role but the Grade 8
student is well-known in the creative
community at the school as
he plays in multiple bands at the
school.
“It seemed really interesting.
Learning the lines is the most challenging
part,” he said.
Josie Hillman plays the witch in
the production. The Grade 9 student
has been involved in several other
productions.
In Grade 4 she played Mrs.
Claus in a the Christmas concert
and in Grade 7 she was also part of
the Big Bad Musical.
“I have a strong passion for
acting,” she said. “This is a great
production because there’s such a
mix of characters.”
Music teacher Matthew Faulk
said about 25 to 30 students are part
of the production from actors to set
design, lighting and sound.
Students started to practice in
October and do so twice a week for
about an hour and a half.
“We’re very lucky we have a
pretty great talent pool. The students
have been working very
hard,” he said.
Students started to practice in
October and do so twice a week for
about an hour and a half.
The public can watch the show
on January 6 and 7 in the elementary
gym at 7 p.m.
