Make The Princess Bride into a musical? Inconceivable!
IPS students make it “As You Wish”
When Island Pacific School (IPS) teacher Christian MacInnis announced at the beginning of the school year that this year's musical production would be adapted from the movie The Princess Bride, the students immediately reacted with enthusiasm. “They were cheering!” Christian explains. Although the Rob Reiner adventure comedy came out in 1987, before the students were born, its timeless humour continues to appeal to new audiences. In fact, most of the students at the school have seen the movie several times. After all, who can resist a classic fairy tale with an evil prince, princess, giants and swordplay?
All students across all grades were invited to audition their talents earlier in the year and this has resulted in a show which features about half the student body in some capacity. Students are involved in acting, singing, musical instrumentation, dance, set construction and tech production (such as lighting and sound) and even the ever-demanding job of stage managing.
Parent Anne Wilson lent her sewing wizardry to last year’s production and she’s graciously offered to do so again this year, so the audience can expect to see some excellent costume designs. And to sharpen their swordplay scenes, the IPS actors are receiving professional-grade stage combat training from Carrie Thiel. The Bowen local spent four years in New Zealand coordinating weapons and stunts for the Lord of the Rings trilogy and IPS is thrilled to have her apply her skills to the production of As You Wish.
Working in collaboration with their teachers, the students (24 actors and 4 musicians) have been involved in writing song lyrics and lines as well as coordinating the choreographic and technical aspects of the production. Christian says the audience can expect the musical to follow the original movie pretty closely, noting “I have a sentimental attachment to the Princess Bride. Other shows I could have hacked to pieces, but I really want to be loyal to this story.”
The Musical runs two nights only, at 6pm on March 13 & 14, 2014. Tickets are $10 and available at IPS and Phoenix on Bowen Island.
Further information about the IPS musical program can be found online at: goo.gl/aB3jq9
