Every two years the St Stithians Boys’ Preparatory community combines their creative forces to stage a major school production.
Each boy in the school has a role to play, ranging from backstage crew to a lead character, and parents and teachers are hands-on in bringing the production to life.
The process involves months of preparation and is always a highlight on the school calendar. Tickets sell fast and the school hall is packed to capacity every night.
This year was no exception.
The school staged their very own creative adaption of Rudyard Kipling’s classic, The Jungle Book.
This coming of age story featured all the iconic scenes and songs and some added extras that no audience member could have expected.
The well-loved vulture scene seemed to be following the 1967 animated classic until the ‘cousin’ vultures from South Africa were introduced to the storyline and played a lively version of Sipho Hotstix Mabuse’s Burnout on their marimbas.
As we know, in the end, Mowgli discovers the man village and he bids his jungle friends farewell. But in this adaptation, becoming part of the village was made even more enticing when 85 boys dressed in jewelled Bollywood style costumes, performed a very lively dance to the well-known Jai Ho.
Besides the polished dramatics, singing, instrument playing and dancing that took place on stage, the play was also a visual feast of artistic make-up and flashy costumes blending in with a beautiful jungle background for a set.
The production’s message, finding a sense of identity and belonging, is one that resonates deeply in the school’s identity, which is focused on accepting differences and appreciating diversity.
What did you think about the production? Share your stories with us on the Sandton Chronicle Facebook page
Also check out:
https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/210792/st-stithians-musicians-recognised/
https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/210787/old-boys-visit-st-stithians-college/
