Major Production of The Lorax

ST STITHIANS BOYS’ PREPARATORY – MAJOR PRODUCTION 2022

After what seemed like forever and a day since we last staged a Major Production, the blue velvet curtains of Mears Hall were finally drawn apart on Tuesday 19 July 2022 to the opening night of our special version of “The Lorax”.

Any astute Drama student will tell you that it is not enough merely to entertain our audiences but our duty to educate them too. Our Major Production certainly ticked both those important boxes. When the message in a children’s storybook created over 50 years ago is still so pertinent and crucially needs to be heard by its audiences today more than ever, then it's our duty to share that vital information.

Theodor Seuss Geisel, a master in creating nonsense words, playful rhymes, and unusual creatures, was ahead of his time when he wrote this apocalyptic tale of The Lorax. He channeled negative topics into magical and meaningful literature for children time and time again. The Lorax was certainly the most environmentally iconic of his stories.

For all the students in the Boys’ Prep this was not merely a show, it was communicating important themes such as deforestation, poor respect for the environment, and the impact of pollution and climate change, in a colourful and whimsical way to ensure maximum entertainment and a meaningful message in one night of theatre.

We cannot however, present problems alone. We like to leave our audience feeling hopeful with the possibility of environmental restoration once we take responsibility for our own actions. The future leaders of this world made sure a positive solution wrapped up the show with the well-versed lines…

“You’re in charge of the last of the Truffula Seeds.

And Truffula Trees are what everyone needs.

Plant a new Truffula. Treat it with care.

Give it clean water. And feed it with fresh air.

Grow a forest. Protect it from axes that hack.

Then the Lorax and all his friends may come back because: ‘Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not’”.

Even though some of us were a little rusty and had to dust off the accumulated cerebral cobwebs on how to stage a major production and for others it was a complete baptism by fire (Mr. Majola proved he had nerves of steel, as well as a few good disco moves) it certainly was a process well worth celebrating for all 412 students, the full complement of staff, and the wonderfully supportive parents. What a fabulous example of a community working together to produce an enthralling piece of theatre. Congratulations One and All! Let us always be Lorax ambassadors and never forget the importance of caring for each other and caring for the world around us. In the words of The Lorax: “I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues.”

Afterall, “it’s not about what it is, it’s about what it can become.” This is another Seussical saying that was thoroughly understood by all involved in this production, as the same blue curtain closed to a thundering applause on closing night, after seven outstanding, sold out performances of the St Stithians Boys’ Prep’s rendition of “The Lorax”.