Logo by Mabel, Grade 6, Earl Buxton School
Earl Buxton School in the Riverbend area is presenting the opera for children and adults, Wizard Things, on Tuesday May 3 and Wednesday 4 by the Welsh composer Mervyn Butch, with a libretto by Dr. Mark Morris, who teaches here in English and Film studies.
It's quite an undertaking - all 573 children in the school are involved, and Mark has been busy working with them. Grades 3 to 6 are in the chorus, play instruments, and take solo roles. K-2 have painted houses and shops, turning the whole of the school gym into the town square of the invented Welsh town Pontabervanwy, where Merlin the Wizard was supposed to have been born. The town has a thriving tourist trade, thanks to this, but discourages children, until a rather rough-looking old man turns up and puts a plague of children on the town…
It's also a real community production. Adult soloists include a school vice-principal, professional actor/singers, and students. Lillian Osborne High School has built the set. Patricia Tao and Shannon Hiebert, two of Edmonton's best pianists, both of whom teach here at the University, play piano four-hands, and Janice Tole conducts.
Details on the Earl Buxton School home page: http://earlbuxton.epsb.ca/home/