Happily Never After

Shannon LeClair
Times Reporter

 

Each year Grade 5 and 6 students at Westmount Elementary School rehearse for their spring play, usually written by associate principal Dana Graff. This year Aric Wutzke wrote and is directing the play titled ‘Happily Never After.’
“I used to do it all, well most of it, what we’ve done is split it up now, So Aric is doing the directing and he wrote the script and I’m doing a lot of the set, all the tech end,” said Graff.
“The theme is about some girls who learn how exciting books can be and reading.”
The two main characters Sam and Leslie get lost in the world of fiction, and fall in love with reading.
“Reading isn’t bad at all … to be honest that stories were actually better than the movies,” said Sam, played by Emily Cooke.
“I never thought I would ever have such an adventure just by opening a book,” said Leslie, played by Kaia Gron.
“I guess that’s the moral of the story, is reading is a fun and exciting adventure, it’s not boring and that people need to give reading a try,” said Wutzke.
“I based this whole book on old fairytales that we have kind of lost touch with … because we’re in a world of media and we’ve kind of lost the real stories, so this goes back to the real stories and how the real stories are actually really good.”
He wonders how many kids nowadays have read Cinderella, or Alice in Wonderland, classic children’s tales.
Being involved with drama at the school means a lot to Wutzke. Since coming to Westmount three years ago he has helped Graff with the yearly production, increasing in his role each time.
“If you had asked me what connecting with the students was, it was being part of these extra circular activities and I have found through these years I really have a connection with these kids, kids that aren’t necessarily in my class,” said Wutzke.
“We become even more of a school community not just classroom and I know I have some girls that have wanted to come back from previous years and help out just because they love it.”
These are the memories that the kids are going to take away from the school, said Wutzke.
The play will run for five shows, two in the evening and three matinees.
During the Wednesday, April 1 matinee seniors in the community are invited to attend the show for free. The Grade 6 students will serve tea and treats.
Matinees will be held March 30, 31 and April 1 at 1:30 p.m. The evening performances are March 31 and April 1 at 7 p.m. Tickets for children four and under are free, ages 5-12 are $3 and adults are $5.