Posts Tagged: theater

preschool / toddlers — No Comments
23
Oct 09

No Halloween this year?

Last year, I had to hunt for a Halloween costume when the preschool in China announced that they would be celebrating this dress-up event :-)

My boy was only 3 then, sweats a lot and didn’t fancy anything over his head. Also, there were limited characters he was familiar with since he’s a HUGE Thomas the Tank Engine fan. He also only knew about:
- Bob the Builder and
- Fireman Sam

Gosh, I wish we could have bought these *CUTE* costumes (with the accessories!!!):

As I only had ONE costume outlet to shop at, I only found the little Musketeer the most suitable. To join in the fun, I dressed up as a Musketeer myself. It was pretty easy since I only needed a buccaneeer blouse, stretch pants (like jodhpurs) tucked into boots. I also got myself a feathered hat to match LOL

This year, he’s into more characters as he’s reading more Winnie-the-Pooh books (he used to identify with “Roo” and loves “Tigger” but now he says he looks like “Christopher Robin”).

After watching Batman & Robin and Batman Returns (rather violent and I’ve hidden away the DVD), he’s declared himself as “Batman”. In jest, I said that I was “Catwoman” and he found that really funny! I guess poor Dad is Robin LOL

He just *LOVES* the segment when Batman puts on his costume – you know, the mask, the gloves, the utility belt and of course, the arrival and opening of the Batmobile!

For now, I approve of Batman (and not Superman due to the fantasy of flying off roofs) and think he’d look really cute strutting about in a Batman costume :-)

Check out the Batman, CARS, Musketeer and Winnie-the-Pooh costumes below:

Unfortunately, his preschool here will NOT be celebrating Halloween, which means his Batman fantasy is very much confined to the TV.

Sigh! I hope that they’ll have drama, dress-up sessions and theatrical events though because he LOVES imaginative play and dressing-up…

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!! Have fun dressing up :-)

Chapter book / pre-teen / teens / young adult — 4 Comments
16
Oct 08

REVIEW: Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild

Ballet Shoes

Set in the late 1930s during the Great Depression, “Ballet Shoes” is about three little girls Pauline, Petrova and Posy who are adopted (by name) by an elderly, absent-minded geologist called Matthew Brown. Each of the three girls have interesting pasts, which come to the fore as they grow and discover themselves.

Because Great-Uncle-Matthew or GUM has no time for babies, the girls are raised by his great-niece, Sylvia and her nanny, Nana.

Pauline is a beautiful child while Petrova is more of a tomboy. Posy, the daughter of a young ballerina who “has no time for babies” has a natural dancer’s streak.

Anyway, GUM’s funds for them runs out and he does not return as promised. Sylvia and Nana are forced to take in boarders, who each play an important role in the girls’ personal development.

First is Mr. Simpson, who runs a garage – he becomes Petrova’s best friend because both of them share a love for automobiles. And Petrova finds a kindred spirit in him because he doesn’t give a hoot about ballet, dresses or how a girl should behave properly.

Second are Dr. Jake and Dr. Smith, a pair of retired professors who volunteer to coach the little girls in Maths and literature. The educators are a godsend for Sylvia because she can no longer afford to send the girls to school.

Last is Theo Dane, a dance teacher at the Children’s Academy of Dancing and Stage Training. She introduces the girls to the Academy, where they learn ballet and performing on stage.

Pauline is a fast favourite due to her natural beauty and grace, much to the envy of the top pupil Winifred, who is overshadowed by plain looks and poverty. Pauline soon starts to earn a living from the roles she wins and soon becomes quite the prima donna…

Poor Petrova suffers at the Academy as she has two left feet. At their first meeting, Madame Fidolia, the retired Russian prima ballerina who runs the Academy is filled with hope at the prospect of developing a fellow countrywoman. Of course, the cars and aeroplane mad Petrova is ANYTHING but a ballerina!

Little Posy is considered too young for serious ballet or stage training but her natural reaction to music soon catches the eye of Madame Fidolia…

I first read “Ballet Shoes” when I was 11 – like any little girl who dreams of becoming a ballerina or a princess, I loved reading about the girls’ preparing their numerous ballet attire, their first class and also of Pauline’s rehearsals!

Besides that, I identified with Petrova being out of place among her more feminine sisters because I was rather tomboyish although I didn’t like cars, aeroplanes or engines. I just didn’t like the kind of stuff most girls my age liked e.g. cute stationery, dainty items and keeping clean and neat all the time (grins).

If your little girl is currently keen on ballet, “Ballet Shoes” is a great read, especially for a REAL feel of the excitement, beauty, hard work, pains, frustrations, airs and squabbles little girls (and adults) experience preparing for stage performances.

Interested? Buy a copy OR check out these other ballet books:

pre-teen / preschool / teens / young adult — No Comments
3
Sep 08

Living literature through Halloween costumes

Nothing’s more fun in an English literature class than to dress up as a book character! And Halloween is the best time for babies, children, pre-teens, young adults and adults to have fun with costumes :-)

Other than movies, books are an excellent source of inspiration for your Halloween costume. Besides, at least you won’t be another Batman, Superman, Cat Woman, waitress, pirate, Zorro or any other popular character (even though they can be pretty cool).

Let’s see, whether you want to dress up in old-fashioned costumes or futuristic, literature has many interesting characters to choose from.

FAMOUS BOOK CHARACTERS
How about dressing up as:

  • “The Cat in the Hat” (the book one, NOT the Johnny Depp version!),
  • Miss Trunchbull, the nasty Headmistress from Roald Dahl’s “Mathilda”,
  • the eccentric Willy Wonka or any of the strange children in Roald Dahl’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”,
  • Laura or Caroline Ingalls (from “Little House in the Big Woods“) in ole Prairie dress, cap and apron from 1800s?
  • a young member of the China Communist party ? (refer to “China’s Son: Growing Up in the Cultural Revolution“) or
  • a beautiful moth or butterfly as the very, very, very shy and young Anna did in “The Woman in the Wall” did.

    • MEDIEVAL MAGIC

    Think “King Arthur” and “Lord of the Rings” and the world is your stage…

    Men would look dashing as a valiant knight, Lancelot, a nobleman, Robin Hood, Legolas…

    Or if you want to stand out of the crowd (who’d probably go as Merlin, Gandalf or Frodo the Hobbit) you could go as Gollum or an Orc and scare the daylights out of everyone! ;-)

    I know I wouldn’t mind looking as ethereal as Galadriel, Arwen or Lady Guinevere since witches would be everywhere already! After, this stay-at-home Mum already looks like fright on normal days, looking pretty is definitely a pleasant change :-)

    FUTURISTIC CHARACTERS

    I’m a HUGE Star Wars fan so if I were to choose a space theme for costumes, I’d dress up as Princess Leia (although I think the ‘buns’ hairdo is absolutely hideous!), perhaps her slave costume or the regal Queen Amidala.

    Babies would look SOOOO sweet as Yoda, Chewbacca or even Darth Vader.

    I think boys may find a Jedi, Anakin Skywalker, a storm trooper, an astronaut or even Buzz Lightyear (from the Disney movie “Toy Story) costumes cool! How about Jar Jar Binks??? I liked him even though he wasn’t very popular…

    Little girls and teenage girls could also consider Judy Jetson (from the cartoon “The Jetsons”) and have fun with a hoop skirt.

    Whichever costume you choose, remember to have fun in the process of dressing up and acting out your character :-)

    Related Posts Widget for Blogs by LinkWithin