In pictures: YK school’s aquatic celebration of individuality

NJ Macpherson School is holding an aquatic celebration this week: a theatrical production featuring hand-made puppets, dancing and songs of the ocean.

Cabin Radio attended a Wednesday dress rehearsal of the school’s spring musical, Watery World of Wonders. The big performance runs from 6:30pm on Thursday.

Sarah Marie Power, the teacher who organized the production, said the script was inspired by a birthday card that celebrates being unique.

“You are different. There’s no one out there like you,” she said.

Children on stage covering their faces with a sheer handkerchief. — Students perform a dance with handkerchiefs. Miriam Bosiljevac/Cabin Radio

Close-up of turtle puppets held by children on stage — Turtle puppets. Miriam Bosiljevac/Cabin Radio

Power said there are 12 different types of puppets in the show but her favourite is the Kraken, a rod puppet controlled by members of the cheer team.

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“All of the students had some kind of part in making their puppets. Every class had a different kind of puppet,” she said.

Cardboard puppet in the shape of a giant fish. — A cardboard puppet in the shape of a giant fish. Miriam Bosiljevac/Cabin Radio

Two actors on stage wearing large turtle shells on their back — Students dressed as turtles. Miriam Bosiljevac/Cabin Radio

The teachers, students and parents worked together over the past three months to create the set decorations. Power said they had a vision but struggled at first. “How am I going to create ocean waves above the shipwreck, but then also make it look kind of cool? And then next thing you know, someone had a pirate flag.”

Then someone else brought Kermit the Frog puppets. Another person had an anchor.

Parents and staff “really come together and put their heart and soul into doing all this,” Power said.

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Entrance to the venue decorated with a giant shark mouth surrounding the doorway. — The shark-mouth entrance to the show. Miriam Bosiljevac/Cabin Radio

Decorated fish — Fish decorations. Miriam Bosiljevac/Cabin Radio

Principal Randy Caines said the students were highly involved in the production.

“Our students also run the sound system, the lighting. They help with the props, and they create all the props in their fine arts classes, as well as practising their dances,” he said.

“They feel so proud of themselves when they have such a big accomplishment.”

Student adjusting the sound during a school stage production. — A student adjusts the sound. Miriam Bosiljevac/Cabin Radio

Shadow puppet show of ship and doll. — A silhouetted image during a performance of My Bonnie. Miriam Bosiljevac/Cabin Radio

3 students on stage playing cards and dressed up as fish. — Playing Go Fish while dressed as fish. Miriam Bosiljevac/Cabin Radio

Drummer on stage. — The production’s drummer. Miriam Bosiljevac/Cabin Radio

One parent in particular, Julie Jeffery, helped build many of the costumes.

Power said Jeffery came to art class and showed students how to put together the different parts, then the students painted them together. “She has worked and worked on so many of the different costumes and the puppetry in it,” Power said.

Linda Jeffery, who has four grandchildren in the production, said the costumes and show were impressive – as was the teachers’ ability to corral that many children in an orderly manner throughout.

“These NJ students are so talented. It makes it so easy for us to work with these students because they really are wonderful performers,” said Power.