Shakespeare Visits Oz in Spencer Valley School Play

Spencer Valley students, Lion, Julian Weaver and Scarecrow, Cierra Smothers, performed Shakespeare's Twelfth Night by using Frank Baum's Wizard of Oz characters.

By Bobbi Zane

Shakespeare would have said it this way, "Things are not what they seem" as the players in this year's Spencer Valley School production the Twelfth Night held on three evenings in late March strode along the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City.

The 28 kids, kindergarten through seventh grade, appeared as Dorothy, the Cowardly Lion, the Tin Man, and the Scarecrow as they portrayed Shakespeare's shipwrecked lovers, complete with practical jokes, impersonations, and other forms of mischief. The little kids, dressed as Munchkins and Flying Monkeys sang along.

The play, adapted from the original with most of the Bard's language intact by Don Winslow, was the school's tenth annual production. Kymm Hansen directed. Mike Hartung, Sandy Bennett and Ann Reilly Cole did the set design and technical direction, while Martha Myers and Annette Seppanen created the costumes.

Don Winslow was presented with a copy of the first edition of The Master Key by L. Frank Baum for his contribution to the play. Photos by Bobbie Zane

The event is both educational and a fund-raiser for the school, Lance Moles, one of the teachers, told the audience. Moles explained that people think that teaching little children to memorize long speeches can't be done. The Spencer Valley production has proved this perception wrong year after year. Moreover, he said, "memorizing good literature is good for the brain at any age." For the children, "It builds confidence and self-esteem."

Funds raised by the dinner theater production with silent auction (only one night) and donations support the Spencer Valley Educational Association, which provides assistance with the following: after school tutoring for any student who needs it; purchase of stage lighting for SVC and Julian High School productions; field trips to San Diego Opera, the San Diego Office of Education Floating Marine laboratory, and the La Jolla Institute of Molecular Medicine; purchase of quality supplies for the school's fine arts and doll making program; and special financial assistance for students who need it.