You know, there’s more to that Little Red Riding Hood than one is led to believe through simply reading bedtime stories. In fact, with her success rate, this planet, and the people on it, might just run a little more smoothly if all of us were to have access to her insights as an analyst.
But maybe that’s just the stuff of fairy tales, too.
But, it was, after all, just another ordinary day in Fairy Tale Land, and it was put on display for all to see as the St. Joseph’s Catholic High School performing arts community hosts an original musical entitled Turn The Page Goldilocks all this week. The musical is a collaboration of many, but started as the brainchild of Mary Ellen Vice, who wrote it, in concert with Kevin McSheffrey, who wrote the accompanying musical score with some help from his daughter Sarah, a former SJCHS student and performer in her own right.
Funny thing about those ordinary days in Fairy Tale Land, they have the look of being truly extra-ordinary when Little Red Riding Hood, and a joint of effort of goodwill to secure a library for Fairy Tale Land, combine to bring characters together in ways that could not be imagined at the story’s beginning.
Take the Evil Stepmother, played by Bailey Rogers. She’s got a bit of stereotype-thing going, and it doesn’t help that she’s got the personality of a chainsaw. But, you see, she wants to change, and she seeks help from the resident pseudo-psychiatrist, Little Red Riding Hood, who in math class passes as Natalie Walters. Riding Hood attempts to soften the acerbic Evil Stepmother, who, in her defence, has generations of experience being the Evil Stepmother working against her.
Then you’ve got the Big Bad Wolf, played by John Legris, who’s struggling himself with his own issues, and would like nothing better than to get the “Bad” out of his name, knowing that it serves as a barrier in his relations with others in Fairy Tale Land, as three little pigs would be able to attest. He, too, is a regular patient of Red Riding Hood.
And finally, we’ve got Christine Helferty as Goldilocks, who harbours some darkness of her own, a darkness that prevents her from realizing her true potential for love and happy days.
Well, you know what? A little advice and encouragement from the right people, the support of friends and the ever-present chorus of characters, and coffee served up by the Gingerbread Man (Kelly Slight) will go a long way towards solving a lot of problems, and the fact that everyone’s excited by the upcoming talent show doesn’t hurt either. To raise money for the library, everyone in Fairy Tale Land wants to perform, because, well, as we all know, everyone wants to be a star.
Now, folks, there’s no reason to give away the whole story here, so you’ll have to show up yourself to figure out how people like the Scarecrow (Colin Carnegie) and The Candlestick Maker (Nigel Grinstead) make a real difference in the great scheme of things in Fairy Tale Land.
Suffice to say, Turn The Page Goldilocks is an absolutely delightful way to spend a couple of hours, and congratulations is due to all those who had a hand in the production and performance of the show.
Well done, everyone!!!
