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Students are headed ‘Into the Woods’ this January

Students from SESS performed Into the Woods at the school in early January.

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.