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Big Bad Wolf not so bad after all
By SARAH FOOR
The familiar story of the three little pigs was turned on its head by the Frank Ohl Drama club on May 8. In their production, the Big Bad Wolf proves during his own testimony during a trial that he isn’t so bad after all.
“The True Story of the Three Little Pigs” brought a tale to life that showed the Wolf actually trying to help Mama Pig kick out her three lazy piglets that need to learn to live independently.
Drama director Jeff Swavel said the production, which he calls a “fractured fairy tale,” was appealing for his fifth-grade actors and actresses.
“The students are at an age where they can still relate to fairy tales, but love it when it’s a bit different and unique. This year’s production features a lot of interaction and audience participation, which the actors and the crowd really enjoyed,” Swavel said.
The production’s set decorations were created in part by art teacher Jen Houston, who enlisted the help of fourth- and fifth-grade students to create props and stage scenery. The costumes were simple, with the actors in wolf and pig hats, to put the focus on the acting of the students.
Although his drama club is still young, Swavel hopes to see it continue to grow.
“We had 240 students audition this year, so participation has been great. In the next few years, we’d like to incorporate the program into the fifth-grade language arts curriculum and have even more kids participate. Whether the kids are on a stage or just in front of their classroom, getting kids involved in the drama process is very rewarding,” the director said.