"I Gotta Crow!"

I had the best time Saturday night at Turkey Hill School’s production of Peter Pan -- all thanks to the tireless efforts of Deborah Sansone and at least 40 mothers and fathers who rehearsed lines with the kids, sewed costumes, built props, took photos, sold snacks, and on and on.

The kids were amazing – there’s no doubt about it!  But nothing could top how amazing it was to see over 100 of them enjoy the chance to act, sing, and dance in a play for their friends and families. Nothing in my past experience prepared me for either the energy or the sheer joy of this undertaking.

I’ve been to school plays before and loved them.  Generally, 10 – 15 kids auditioned and got speaking or chorus parts and another 10 or so kids worked in the stage crew. There were costumes and scenery and programs.  These
performances were always a lot of fun.

But TH’s Peter Pan was HUGE – a true spectacular! – and no child who wanted to try it was turned away!  I think I counted a dozen different Peter Pans, including one with itchy poison ivy who performed like the trouper he was. There were nine Wendys, three Michaels, three Tinkerbells, and four or five Smees.  There were Twinkle Stars and Sparkle Stars and Winkie Stars. 

There were two dozen dancing mermaids!  Some of the actors were laugh-out-loud funny.  Some of them were so little and so cute, they brought tears to my eyes.  The ‘lost’ boys and girls of Neverland made me just want to take them home, like the Wendys did, and read fairy tales to them!

Mrs. Sansone, the Drama Club Producer, wrote in her stage notes that people often ask her and her crew of parent directors why in the world they would do this. Are they crazy?  Why would anyone take all that time to rewrite a new script that exited one Peter, so another could slip in?  Why would they sew three or four Hook costumes when they could have gotten away with one?  Why hold Drama Club rehearsals with 101 actors when the exits and entrances would be so much more manageable if you divided that number by four and told the rest of the kids, ‘maybe next year.’   Mrs. Sansone told the audience that last year only five 6th graders came out for the play; this year there were three times that number. 

As this school district’s new superintendent, I am once again amazed by a commitment to kids in evidence everywhere I turn.  Thank you to these wonderful parents who wanted 101 actors this year, and next year are hoping for more.  Their gift, like the gift of so many of Orange’s parents i have met, is immeasurable!  And if I might take liberties with Peter Pan’s lyrics a bit, I’ll admit this to you: 
“I'm just the luckiest ‘fellow’ / 'Twas ever my fortune to know!  / How can I hide it / When deep down inside it / just tickles me so / That I've gotta let go / and crow!”