The Singing Scotties presented The Aristocats Kids last week, and fourth graders delivered an epic performance.
The production featured speaking or singing roles for most of the kids on stage, and the young actors displayed the confidence of stage veterans. Students maintained contact with the audience throughout the event and showed off considerable stagecraft skills.
Director Donesa Mann made it look easy but sorting out 23 cast members had to be as difficult as herding cats. The characters included a flurry of felines, as well as some camo-clad dogs, some lifesaving geese, and a mouse brave enough to walk up to a cluster of alley cats. Although the costumes were simple, they were also very effective and appealing.
Mrs. Mann acknowledged the assistance of her daughter, Mallory Butler, with choreography. Despite having so many characters singing, dancing, and acting, the players worked together seamlessly. Productions in elementary school are often simplified, but Mrs. Mann challenged her players, and they responded accordingly. For example, the kids performed a complicated multi-part song, “Scales and Arpeggios,” while moving around a critter-cluttered stage.
Before the performance, Mrs. Mann explained the environment at Eureka Springs schools which encourages such performances. She credited the school principals, Supt. Bryan Pruitt, and the school board.