On Thursday, January 28th at 8:00 P.M. the Grade 11 students at Chateauguay Valley Regional High School will be performing Neverland, an original take on J.M. Barrie’s classic tale Peter Pan.
While the Grade 11 performing and visual arts students put on a play every year, this is the first time that Neverland will grace the CVR stage. In the true spirit of the bedtime story, this production is sure to be nothing short of magical.
Approximately fifty students have been prepping for the play all year, having prepared their auditions over the summer. The musical is the result of creative efforts put forward not only by the teachers, but also from the students, who have been actively involved in developing every aspect of the play, from the sparkling backdrop to countless pairs of fairy wings that will be seen flitting about on stage. The role of Peter Pan will be taken up by Dylan Burrows, with the villainous Captain Hook being played by Liam Priest. Rosemary Tarquinio will embrace the role of the innocent Wendy, while the glittering part of Tinker Bell will be shared by Sydney Zawislak and Emily Ocenas.
Teachers involved with the production of the play, including Lynn Harper, Cindel Chartrand and Dawna Babin, played a large role in designing the set, using sketches and photographs to create a stage that would be both imaginative and multi-purposed. They called upon locals Stanley Myatt, Robert Campbell and Michael Iskra to construct the creations that they had build up in their imaginations. Beryl Myatt also volunteered her seamstress skills to create costumes that were unique to each of the students—many of the inspirations for which were gathered on social media site Pinterest. Local businesses also stepped in to donate both their time and materials to the production of the play, while several CVR alums volunteered their time to provide music for the production. According to Harper, “This close-knit cast has laboured long to bring their own personal stamp to each song, dance, prop, set piece and costume. They have worked tirelessly to bring a level of professionalism to the stage and to make this show their own.” They are well prepared—in addition to having rehearsed all year, the players showcased a piece for the high school’s annual open house earlier this fall—they will also perform Neverland for an elementary audience on Wednesday, January 27th.
While the students enjoy themselves performing, they get much more out of the whole experience, says Harper. “At the end of the journey that is “Performing Arts”, students often remark that the experience is more than a class. They feel a sense of belonging—a sense of being part of something bigger than themselves. They cultivate relationships that are lasting and learn lessons that are unique to this experience. They develop a sense of personal growth and self-confidence. In the end, our students develop not only as individual performers, but as part of the greater whole.”
So join Wendy, John and Michael as they sail away to Neverland with the courageous Peter Pan and Tinker Bell to meet mysterious mermaids, mystical fairies, Tiger Lily and her tribal warriors, and Captain Hook’s swashbuckling pirate crew. This magical musical tour is set to take place on January 28th (8:00 p.m.), January 29th (8:00 p.m.) and January 30th (2:00 p.m. matinee and 8:00 p.m.) and tickets ($12 for adults and $10 for students and seniors) can be reserved today by calling the school at (450) 829-2381.
