Monsters are everywhere at Westmount
Shannon LeClair
Times Reporter
Each spring Westmount students proudly showcase a drama production for their family and fellow classmates. Associate Principal Dana Graff writes the script, and directs the 35 to 40 students each year, coaching them through their lines and preparing them for the big day.
This year Aric Wutzke, new to Westmount, has been helping Graff direct the students for this year’s performance The Monster in the Trunk.
“It’s great for them to have this opportunity after school to be involved with drama, and there’s a lot of good things that come out of drama, confidence, being able to be silly, be able to not take yourself so seriously and I think it’s just a lot of fun for these kids,” said Wutzke.
“The play is about I think being nice and overcoming bullying and just really mean people by being nice to them. The power of kindness, the best way to get rid of an enemy is to make him your friend.”
The other underlying tone is that you have the power within yourself to be able to overcome challenges that you may face in your life, something Graff hopes the audience will also see and learn when watching the play.
“My goal is to imbed a message that the audience can learn from as they watch the play. Hopefully this will have an impact on both the audience and the cast and crew as well,” said Graff.
“The kids in the production already get the benefits of participating in the production, building self esteem and learning about work ethic but, hopefully, they will learn about kindness as well.”
The play follows the tale of Elizabeth, who is scared of everything. One night a monster named Boo who is a nice monster from Monster-land visits her.
In Monster-land kindness and compliments are forbidden.
Elizabeth has a sleepover one night, inviting her friends to meet Boo, who comes to the sleepover through a trunk, which is a portal from Monster-land.
When the Supreme Ruler finds out about the despicable kindness taking place he sends his trusty spy Spider to scope things out. The girls are kidnapped by Spider and are set to stand trail for their crimes. Elizabeth and Boo have evaded capture and together they must overcome their fears and rescue their friends.
Staff and parent volunteers are also instrumental in making the performance a success each year. They help create the scenery, the costumes and with the makeup.
The performance begins with a matinee on April 23 at 1 p.m. There is a second matinee on the 24, also at 1 p.m. This one is a senior’s tea, it is free for seniors to attend and they will be served tea, coffee or cold drinks and snacks after the production. There are two evening showings, with the first performance on April 24 at 7p.m., and the second is April 25 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 per adult, or $3 for children ages 5 to 12.