This week saw the arrival of the much anticipated cultural high-light for six year olds: Grandma's Toys - the year one show. Treading the boards for the first time properly was one Trixie Lawrence as the eponymous hero of this fine tale.
Three classes of year one's had been rehearsing for several weeks under the directing, choreography and musicianship of their really committed and patient teachers. I managed to see the first show, put on for the early years children and I was not disappointed. Wearing a floral pattern yellow dress, pink hat, trainers and Lexi's old glasses Trixie made her entrance, with the aid of a walking stick and a new Grandma was born! She nailed her first line and was off, helping her intrepid Gang of Four grand children to discover the joys of playing with Grandma's favourite toys instead of resorting to iPads.
And this audience member loved it! Grandma gave her Grand children, all of whom we taller than her - obviously the directors were going for authenticity-clues to help them find clowns, clockwork mice and toys soldiers to name but a few. The cast clearly enjoyed doing the show and it did look very good. as well as the high-light of watching my daughter perform there were several other key moments to report where the cast, in the words of another audience member, were able to get away with murder while also entertaining their band of admirers and fans.
The school tries to train kids to be resilient at all times and there was plenty of that on show. The perennial anxiety for a Drama teacher putting on a show is always 'Will the cast turn up?' The year one teachers applied a much more pragmatic approach to the non-attenders which was: The Show Must Go On. Hence one character's were read out by the director and Trixie found herself dancing to Lollipop at the front of the stage without the aid of a partner. Resilience prevailed in spade-fulls as puppets who were facing the wrong way were simply turned by their fellow puppets, toy soldiers ordered each other in to the right line and clockwork mice used their keys to move each other about during the best, I am biased, parody of Gangnam Style, 'I'm Wind-Up And I Know It.' Well done to all involved.
Status, particularly that gained by parents who have high achieving children is a big aspirational factor in KL. My daughter the doctor or my son the lawyer is a much sought after refrain. How many more lawyers does Malaysia need? For me, watching the year ones my proud refrain was 'My daughter the six year old who, along with her peers has brought great joy to many.' Status or creativity? I know which one I go for every time. Surely we can have both?