Performance Review-The Jungle Book-Sydney Taylor

The Jungle Book

9:30 am

May 13, 2016

Directed by Kristian Junker and Kiefer Schuler

Lassiter Theater of Henry Clay High School

Performers-Raiffa Syamil, Jade Curless, Yazmina Townsley, Jade Kropp, Anne Russell, Aislinn Langley, Ji-Hae Kim, Isabel Jenkins, Maya Creamer

The Jungle Book shares the story of Bagheera the panther and Baloo the bear attempting to get a young boy named Mowgli to leave the jungle for a human civilization so he will be protected from Shere Kahn, the tiger out to destroy man and any “man cubs”. Ultimately, they defeat Shere Kahn so Mowgli does not have to leave. However, in the end, he is lured from the jungle by a pretty, young, singing girl from the village that he observes collecting water near the jungle.

Most performers wore clothes specific in color to their character, though not necessarily a costume exactly depicting the character, with makeup and/or ears showing what animal they played. This is with the exception of characters like Shere Khan, played by Yazmina Townsley, who wore a full tiger outfit and the vultures who had feathers on their costumes. Jade Kropp, playing King Louie, wore a simple orange outfit and Mowgli, played by Raiffa Syamil, wore brown pants and a shirt. Jade Curless, voicing the snake Kaa, walked carrying a large green snake puppet while Anne Russell carried the rest of the snake body. The set was simple other than a background, a tree to climb, and a throne for King Louie. King Louie’s monkey minions swung from ropes suspended from the top of the stage to simulate them swinging from trees. Large green leaves hung around the top of the stage, enhanced by green lights that shone on the stage and the performers.

The content followed the same story as the movie adaptations. The lesson in this story is that everyone should have the freedom to live where they want and be accepted, but some people have destinies elsewhere that they never would have imagined.

The Jungle Book was one of the best performances put on by Henry Clay High School and the drama department in the past four years. The singers were phenomenal and the orchestra carried the performance (if sometimes overshadowing the performers without microphones). This was an impressive show for high school students, and it was very obvious how much dedication every member committed to making the show as great as it was. They seemed to always have energy, even after the countless elementary school and evening performances they did.