Gillispie School’s Fifth Grade presentation of The Ever After by Nathan Hartswick, masterfully directed by our Grade 5 teacher extraordinaire, Jen Chaney, had the audience bursting out in laughter while delivering an important message at the end.
Talk show hosts Evelyn G. and Nico J. stayed true to their characters as they reunited long-estranged fairy-tale characters. From Snow White and the Evil Queen to Cinderella and her now-middle-aged stepsisters, each reunion had us laughing. The studio audience guests were particularly lively and opinionated! Meanwhile, the real audience enjoyed participating in over-the-top infomercials and reacting as guest expert, Jiminy Cricket, stirred the pot. We won’t soon forget the caustic magic mirror or the prince who was slowly turning back into a frog!
In the end, the play reminded us that “happily ever afters” in the real world require forgiveness, communication, and a willingness to work through differences.