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Saturday, January 15, 2011

CSTARS Kids Know How to Shine

The Saturday Matinee performance of CSTARS Sleeping Beauty was not your average live production. With sound issues, technical difficulties, and an over zealous special effects controller, these kids proved they have what it takes, following the old adage, "The show must go on." And go on it did.

After the curtains opened it didn't take long to see the extensive creative directing that had gone into such a play. CSTARS philosophy is that each child that auditions receives a part, so when the director is encumbered with excess budding actresses and actors, she views it as an opportunity, not a hinderance. The scenes were filled with fairies, field and forest creatures and multiple villianous henchmen controlled by the evil Maleficent.

Following intermission their was the battle of good versus evil, with the Prince slaying the dragon that guarded Sleeping Beauty's castle. This is where things got interesting. The dragon was not the snarling, scaly type, no this dragon was the hot ember eyed fire breathing kind, enter the over zealous special effects. While smoke bellowed from the fierce dragons mouth the auditorium became filled with the non toxic fog, setting off the fire alarms and flashing lights. Though there was no danger the Fire Department was immediately dispatched. After it was clear there was no danger, yet the auditorium still was in need of some airing out and the alarms were still shreiking, the play continued, the actors not missing a beat.

While in the end the princess with a voice of gold did indeed marry the handsome Prince, it was the comedic relief of the supporting actors and actresses that caused multiple guffaws and many bouts of outright laughter from the audience.




By, Charity Maness

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