VIDEO: Hurley Middle School Thespians Perform Little Red Riding Hood Spin-off

Dr. Kevin M. Hurley Middle Schoolers kicked into high gear for a long-delayed play rehearsal Thursday afternoon, Feb. 10. Bustling around the auditorium in Burger King crowns and fake leaves, the students had energy to spare.

Winter’s relentless snow seemed to fall on almost every rehearsal day, Tuesdays and every other Thursday, but the kids were ready to get back on track.

“They’re pretty good this year, [but] they haven’t had rehearsal in a month so they’re a little rusty,” said director and sixth grade teacher Keri Thivierge who confessed while the kids practiced, “They’re getting more done today than they ever do.”

Thivierge, 24, and assistant director Debbie Fieldhand chose Stephen Sondheim’s adapted play “Into the Woods, Junior” for this year’s May performance. Having performed “Into the Woods” in her collegiate years, Thivierge was prepared to adjust to the needs of the students.

The plot enmeshes the lives of Jack, who’s infamously associated with a particular beanstalk, Cinderella, Rapunzel and, not the candlestick maker, but the baker. The mix of fairy tale characters was brought to life through song by 50 vivacious sixth, seventh and eighth graders.

Another iconic childhood figure who makes an appearance is Little Red Riding Hood. Playing the unfortunate grand-daughter is sixth grader Abbie Hopkins. Hopkins, 11, stood out amidst 60 classmates singing from “Mamma Mia!” to land her roll.

“It kind of comes to me. . . I’m not the princess-y type, so I wanted to be Little Red,” she said.

Some of the young actors, like Hopkins, already have some acting experience under their belts. As for the more novice thespians, they weren’t left to fend for themselves.

“The older ones take the initiative and help the little ones,” said Thivierge.

 A newcomer to the acting scene was Gabby Gagne, 11, who was cast as a tree. What she lacked in acting experience, she made up for with years of dance. And playing a tree was no easy task, not even for the seasoned dancer. 

“The hardest part is keeping [my arms] up the entire time,” said Gagne.

Organization during the run-through seemed to be the trickiest part of rehearsal as stage manager Ben Tusino,13, ricocheted across the stage trying to mitigate talkative actors, music cues and missed lines.

Come the end of rehearsal however, the troupe rallied together to sing the play’s final song. With the play a few months ahead, all cast members have fingers crossed hoping for no more cancellations due to snow. 

And as the day's rehearsal drew to a close, sixth grader Andrew Silveira encapsulated the scene.

“Everyday’s a new surprise.”

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