Kindersley’s middle school performers, ‘Get ready to look fabulous!’
By Joan Janzen
Elizabeth Middle School’s colourful cast masterfully performed Aladdin Jr. not just once but five times within three days. Students from all three schools, family, friends, and visitors thoroughly enjoyed the musical stage production from November 26th to 28th.
The kids even surprised their parents. As one mom commented, “I had no idea he had rhythm and dance moves.” Each student’s contribution produced a stunning synergy effect.
A line pronounced by Genie in the play aptly described the students’ performance. “Get ready to look fabulous!” Genie said, and the cast of Aladdin Jr definitely looked fabulous on stage.
Whoever was responsible for the casting did an awesome job. The actors were well suited to their corresponding characters, from Aladdin’s pal who added a comic flare to evil Jafar bellowing out a sinister laugh. “That’s a good laugh,” quipped someone in the crowd, saying out loud what everyone was thinking.
The main actors—Aladdin, Jasmine, and Genie—made acting in a musical look easy and were obviously enjoying every minute of it. And we can’t forget the kid wearing a monkey suit who pulled off some pretty cool dance moves. Sword-wielding guards giving chase off stage, a human-powered magic carpet, and a spooky voice emanating from the sound system all added to the entertainment.
Of course, none of the above would have been possible without the help of the directors, production staff, sound crew, set designers, costume directors, junior designers, choreographers, and backstage crew and a generous donation to cover sound rentals and canteen costs.
The production ‘Aladdin Jr’ may have been created by Disney, but it’s the cast and crew at Elizabeth Middle School that transformed it into a work of art.
Here is a list of the talent: Bennett Haubrich (Genie); Kyle San Andres (Aladdin); Brody Cullen, Oriana Gonzalez and Jayla Peardon (Aladdin’s pals); Sadie Coles (Jasmine); Brody Wooldridge (Sultan); Parker Bellisle (Jafar); Ali Smith (Iago); Sadie Gutenberg (Shop Owner); Lewis Meyer (Razoul); Aubrey Strutt, Hamilton Fullerton (Guards); Abby Nash, Kristin Drozd, Aubrey Strutt (Beggars); Payton Welker (Apple Vendor); Sadie Gutenberg (Fortune Teller); Hamilton Fullerton, Parker Robbie (Attendants); Lewis Meyer (Prince Abdullah); Sadie Gutenberg (Isir); Nellie Down (Manal); Brooklyn Atkinson (Rajah); Parker Robbie (Spooky Voice); Hamilton Fullerton (Cave of Wonders).
And we can’t forget the students who worked behind the scenes: Nick Hoffman, Serenity Malcolm, Felicity Malcolm and Nicko Eden (Jr. Backstage Crew); Brooklyn Atkinson (Jr. Choreographer); Jaxon McNeil, Olivia Roddam, Xian Patriz Oliveros, Lile Cummings, Nick Hoffman, Serenity Malcolm, Felicity Malcolm, Mackenzie Roberts, Livia Gerschner and Roxanne Liepert (Jr. Designers).