Drama Queens

I haven't written for a while, but even while "resting," life seems very full.  A flurry of guests, a badly sprained ankle, a little work on launching our Freedom Firm jewlery business, (Ruhamah),  and most of all the mad dash of Drama Week at Hebron at the end of last term keeps us all moving along at a steady clip.  

Every Year at Hebron School, standards (grades) 7, 9, 11 and 13 all stage plays during Drama Week. Its a big event, and the children spend the full six weeks of the first half term in a whirlwind of preparation, practice, props and late nights. Each play is performed twice in October, once for the students, and once for the parents. This year, all three of our girls were in the plays. Kavi, in standard 11, Rachael in standard. 9 and Abbi in standard 7.

Kavi played the role of Annie Besant in The Match Girls. An excellent play, it follows the historical account of 18^th century working conditions in a match factory in Industrial England. Annie Besant, a human rights activist, helps impoverished factory women to win a court case for better wages and conditions in the factory. While teachers and parents felt the play was about human rights, Kavi and her classmates describe the play as, " more about relationships and a close glimpse of the tragic lives of people in the factory." I giggled when Kavi marched around the stage flaunting Freedom Firm brochures. She played the character with all the flair, passion and compassion of the real Annie Besant. The play was highly acclaimed in the Hebron Awards ceremony, and Kavi received a "special mention.” One of Kavi's great delights is drama, and she was in her element.

Rachael was cast as “James” for James and the Giant Peach. With over 200 lines, Rachael remembered all of her lines, and all her classmate's too. I saw her mouthing lines for friends when they got stage fright.  Although she made an unusually pretty boy, she was apparently convincing in her role. With her long hair all tucked up into a newspaper boy's hat, and boyish clothes, she fooled a watching parent who wondered who the “new boy” was. The play was hilarious, enhanced by the giant caterpillar and the giant grasshopper, two notoriously humorous boys in the class. Rachael's performance received an “highly commended.”

Abbi's class performed Annie. Abbi was one of the orphan girls. She was initially very disappointed with the small part she landed. “Seven lines, mom,” she wailed. “Well,” I said, “you better make your seven lines count.” And boy did she ever. She sang, danced and shouted her lines across the stage with all the confidence in the world. A teacher at Hebron (who directed Kavi's play) thought Abbi was the third best actress in the play. She received a "director's commendation," during the awards. My guess is, she'll get a part with more lines when she gets to Standard 9!

Abbi's class won the "Best Play" award for Hebron, and was chosen to compete against several other schools in Ooty.  I heard the plays presented were all fantastic, and the age ranged all the way up to standard 12.  Unbelievably, Hebron won!  We were all surprised that such a young and inexperienced class could win against the older classes.  Abbi's best friend, Mikaela Parks won "Best Actress."  Abbi couldn't be more thrilled.  They make a great pair, and of course they apply their acting ability to many spheres of life, keeping their teachers and parents amused, delighted, and most definitely on the edge of their seats.

Greg and I love the dramas. There is nothing like the thrill of watching your child rise to the challenge of the stage, work hard at the practice and then enjoy every moment of acting. You see new dimensions in their personality that you never see revealed by any other facet of school life.   Its fascinating to watch year after year their growth in conveying  the emotions of their character, eliciting emotion in the audience,  becoming more subtle and learning to balance overly dramatic tendencies.  Then there is the close camaraderie with their fellow players, the team work and more than anything the joy and excitement of performance. Its all a huge rush, and as parents, we get to watch and marvel at their unadulterated FUN.

I can't remember school being fun. So Greg and I shake our heads in wonder and disbelief when we see our kids reveling in these events. How good is God, to give them (and us) such pure delight?