Every year my younger kids’ school takes a week off timetable to do something amazing. Last year they decorated the walls of the schools with some incredible artwork. This year they performed The Lion King.
They had just a week to pull it all together – working with children from reception to year 6 learning songs and dance moves, as well as painting animals to decorate the stage. There was a small number of speaking parts for year 5 and 6 children.
Now I really, really wanted my son to have one of those speaking parts. But I didn’t want to pressure him. He was nervous of going for something and not getting it. Nervous of being disappointed. But if he didn’t go for it and he saw someone else doing a rubbish job? He’d regret it.
He fancied Scar or Zazu. Of course I wanted him to do Pumba (regular readers will know I’ve had a toy Pumba for half of my life which comes out every birthday to hold the birthday cards).
When he came out of school on the first day I didn’t even know if he’d auditioned. But he was smiling. It was a smile that said he’d auditioned AND he’d a got a part. He’d decided Zazu had too many lines, so he went for Rafiki (the crazy, wise monkey) – and he GOT IT! A key part in the story and my boy got it. Out of approximately 120 children eligible to audition, NINETY of them had gone for a part – and there were only 14 parts. I was so proud of him.
So now I just needed to get the best view. I have a problem with school plays/ concerts/ assemblies. I am ALWAYS at the back. Usually half obscured behind a pillar. It’s always the same people at the front and always me awkwardly looking round for the spare seat. But this time I was going to get there early. I decided an hour early was the only way.
You can’t imagine my elation when I arrived an hour early and I was THE ONLY ONE THERE. I had secured my seat at the front! I wasn’t the only one for long – and was pleased it was friends of mine that turned up next.
The kids filed in – all 400+ of them wearing brightly coloured Tshirts designed by my son’s friend. They were on the stage, the floor, the balcony… There were kids everywhere. Just the sight of them made me well up. But where was my son? He wasn’t there. But as luck would have it, my daughter was right in front of me – beaming her way through the Circle of Life.
My son’s lovely, cute, smiley best friend kicked off the show as Scar. How could such a lovely boy play Scar? But he did. And he made a blimmin’ good job of it. He was properly scary. The scene where he killed Mufasa (my friend’s son) was so beautiful and moving.
The scripted bits were interspersed with singing and dancing – songs like I Just Can’t Wait to be King and my favourite (of course) Hakuna Matata. The kids in years 1-6 were divided into houses (I like to think of my kids’ house as being Gryffindor) and each house had its turn taking the lead and dancing on the stage. The reception kids had their own dances which were about as cute as it’s possible to be. The range of expressions and movements was just adorable. Needless to say, my daughter gave it her all on their dance.
And still there was no sign of Rafiki.
Simba met up with Timon and Pumba. I cried a bit over Timon’s singing (a girl in my son’s class, who I hardly even know) – it was absolutely beautiful.
Then a vision in red, yellow and blue face paint streaked onto the stage. His footsteps were so light as he darted around furtively. Then he spoke in a voice which wasn’t his own. It was the voice of a wise, old African monkey.
It was also the voice of a blimmin’ good actor. He was captivating. He acted with every inch of his body. I welled up, grinned like a loon and took photos until my husband told me to stop.
The teacher who had done his make-up had pulled out all the stops. He looked fabulous and his head dress was exactly the same as the one in the West End show.
Rafiki showed Simba his reflection in the water and convinced him Mufasa lived on in him. They sat there quietly on stage in character as the kids all sang their song. Then it was back to claim the Pride Lands and get rid of Scar.
The show was absolutely fantastic. I was so proud of both my kids, and in awe of everyone at the school for all they had achieved in just a week.
This is my entry for Loud ‘n’ Proud. If you’ve got something you want to shout about this week, please link up below and have a read of some of the others too. Next week Loud ‘n’ Proud will be hosted by Judith at Secrets of the Sandpit
March 27, 2014
Wow that make up is brilliant and it sounds like it was a brilliant evening. Well done to your boy!
March 27, 2014
Thanks very much. The make-up is fabulous, isn’t it? He did so well.
March 27, 2014
Fantastic! What a great thing to do with the whole school! In Holland it’s a primary school tradition for the class leaving for secondary school (is that year 6 in England?) to do a musical at the end of the year, and I’ve always loved that. But this is actually even more awesome. How great to just ditch the timetable and put on a show. And that make up is amazing. 🙂
March 27, 2014
Blimey even I am captivated and I wasn’t there! I think it’s amazing that they managed to pull off a show with only 1 week of rehearsals – all the songs and everything! That make up is incredible, so glad that he did you proud 🙂
March 27, 2014
Wow! That face is amazing! We watched The Lion King for the first time with our toddler last night… She loved it! Such a beautiful story…sounds like your son and his friends did a wonderful job!
March 27, 2014
You must have been so proud! I would! 🙂 Can’t wait till my 3 year old gets involved in school plays/shows 🙂
March 27, 2014
I’m not surprised your proud, sound’s like both of your kids did fantastic! Love the make-up x
March 27, 2014
I am proud with you =P
hope that that makes sense. I can just feel how proud you are of your kids. Kids are really a source of joy.
March 27, 2014
This really is wonderful, it sounds like such an amazing experience for all the kids, and you can tell from the smile on your sons face how much he enjoyed it!
March 27, 2014
Ahh, that is so lovely. And his facepaint looks awesome 🙂
March 27, 2014
Ah I love this idea for a linky Sarah x
March 27, 2014
That sounds absolutely wonderful, they must have put on amazing show – this is not an easy one to do. He looks like he is really enjoying himself, brilliant face paint too 🙂 x
March 27, 2014
Thanks very much, everyone. It really was a fantastic experience for them all and my son was very sad when it was over.
It is incredible what they achieved in a week, Suzanne.
The face paint was down to one of the teachers – very talented!
I totally understand what you’re saying, Pixiedusk! What a lovely thing to say.
Thanks, Mammasaurus, I can’t take all the credit for the linky, it’s the brainchild of 3 Children and It!
March 28, 2014
Absolutely incredible Sarah! What a fab thing for the school to do each year, the kids must love it! Well done to your son, sounds like he did a sterling job #PoCoLo
March 28, 2014
It sounds like he did a great job and you had a fab time. Well done to your son!
March 28, 2014
Well done to your son and daughter. This is an amazing musical for a school to even attempt x
March 28, 2014
brilliant! Brought me out in goosebumps. Well done to your son. Popping over from #pocolo
March 28, 2014
Just thought I would pop back to say thank you for linking to PoCoLo x
March 28, 2014
Aww such a proud moments 🙂 great face painting.. thanks for sharing at the weekend blog hop…
March 28, 2014
fantastic – that sounds like such a great idea to take some time off curriculum to do something amazing! I love those face paints – looks fabulous x
March 28, 2014
Aww! How lovely! Sounds like he did so well! I love the face paint x
March 28, 2014
Oh wow what an awesome post Sarah. You must have been so thrilled, such a proud moment for everyone. Just brilliant and the make-up is just ace!
March 28, 2014
Oh wow!! That sounds amazing. Brilliant film too! I am off to see the theatre production in June. Can’t wait.
I bet you were absolutely bursting. And rightly so!
#pocolo
March 28, 2014
Oh wow!! That sounds amazing. Brilliant film too! I am off to see the theatre production in June. Can’t wait.
I bet you were absolutely bursting. And rightly so!
#pocolo
March 29, 2014
Fab post and Well Done to your son!!! The Lion King os one of my faves EVER and so pleased he did a grand job and that you loved it so much. His makeup looks awesome #pocolo
March 29, 2014
Grace says – Oh WOW!!! Fab job – well done. I was feeling nervous for your boy when Mummy was reading this to me. Loved it #pocolo
March 30, 2014
That sounds brilliant, I saw my 4 year olds first nativity last christmas and can’t wait to see more shows as she grows, I know she is going to be a performer, #pocolo
April 1, 2014
Thanks very much, everyone. They really did have an amazing time!
Enjoy the theatre show, Tanya! I saw it pre-kids and would love to go back with them, especially after this experience.
Lovely that your 4yo is going to be a performer, Loving life with little ones! 🙂