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6 weeks, 130 amazing children and what do you get? The ABC's and Rice Musical!
When the idea was first thought of I never imagined the outcome - in fact I never thought it would be any more than 2 songs and a bit of a dance...oh how I was wrong! I had each class for an hour a week, and in the short space of time scripts, shakers, t-shirts and Khmer translations had to be produced. As it got nearer and nearer to show day more and more things were added to my 'to do list'...including a big tarpaulin to use as audience shading, which at one point it seemed like an impossible task.....There was not one day, however, when I didnt have a smile on my face - the speed in which the kids picked up the dance moves and songs were shockingly good! They loved it and I loved teaching them :) (yes okay they did call me crazy teacher a few times, I think it was the face pulling in between dance moves which did it ha!)
It was finally Sunday...the big day! 170 t-shirts packed into two big black sacks and a barang in a tuk tuk driving around looking for 300 bananas and 3kg of crisps! It wasn't a relaxing morning, put it that way. I made it to school around 1130 and started to set up (mmm maybe 3 hours was a bit too early!). So in between balloon blowing and sign-making I treated myself to a pizza takeaway....It certainly did the job! Volunteers and kids started to arrive around 2 and it was all hands on deck. The trapaulin was put up, and two were laid as ground sheets, including some funky cushions which Tammy and Mon found. Signs and balloons were tied onto the school gate, and the PA and music were in full swing....and the kids were running around getting very excited! When the gorgeous T-shirts (thanks to my nan and grandad and Rotary Club) were handed out their faces lit up. It was truly magical. They had a costume and they looked like one big family. We were one big family, and a sweaty one at that! (the sun was beating down like there was no tomorrow which I much prefered than the scare I got the day before with the freak storm). We had one dress rehearsal; this was the first time that the whole school had preformed together, and then it was time to paint each childs faces and let the audience into the school.... This was it........
When the audience was arriving, Richard and Kenny (both outside guitarists) were playing in the background and the kids loved it! It was amazing; we were able to get real live payers for them to listen to and see play. Unfortunately I didn't have eight arms otherwise I would have loved to play keyboard for them! So with half an hour til showtime it was all go! Children and adults (mainly the kids however) helped dig into the food as I did my rounds for checking that everyone was prepared, excited and more importantly, happy. It reached 4.30 and the kids were called offstage to get into their class lines ready for the start of the show. With the kids in place and audience ready to watch I took one huge breath and waved on my narrators ready to start the performance. 'Hello and welcome to a day at ABC's and Rice....' AHHHHHH oh my it was actually happening. The narrators sounded incredible and they loved using the mic! Everyone then came onto the stage, big grins all round (even a five year old wearing make-up put on by her mum!) to sing the ABC's chant...then it was time for the first song 'From little things'. This was sang perfectly; Mon (who had re-written the lyrics) I'm sure felt like a proud little body. Then it was time for the monkeys 'Move it'....this was a funny one. A four year old at the front stood their looking cute the whole way through, but they got it and they looked like they loved it as they were shouting 'I like to move it move it' with their cheeky faces! Then it was 'Walking on sunshine'. Wow, just wow! The vibrant colours of the shakers, the happy song, and the smiling faces...It got me choked up but I couldn't break, I had done so well not welling up the past 6 weeks, now was not the time. Especially becasue they were looking at me (located back middle) for timing and when to come on and off stage. Oh no, it was time for 'Imagine' - oh how I wish I hadn't thought of putting this song in the show. They sang loudly and clearly - the best they had done to date! The sentences to certain lines of the song were in the correct order and it was great. After hearing a few sobs from behind I knew it had touched people as much as it had touched me! 'Pump it' was brillaint! The monkeys were all shouting the lyrics and they didn't even get thrown by the audience....even one of the kid's tiny sister took to dancing along to it near the stage. It was nearly over and time for the last song 'Journey-Don't stop believing'. The stage was filled, dance moves were fab and their singing was equally amazing. Definitely a good one to end on! The performance lasted over half an hour and all the students came on stage to bow. A roar of applause surrounded the children and they were so proud of themselves, and so they should have been! I scooted off to congratulate the children but before I made it to them, the older level kids grabbed my hand and pulled me to the stage. No way, I was not about to make a speech! ..... Nope it wasnt a speech!....I then saw a chair behind me and they sat me down on that and 'I've had the time of my life started playing'. The level six class had choreographed (with the help of Vanessa) a surprise song to thank me. As soon as I heard them sing I was overwhelmed! And my huge sunnies (still should have brought even bigger ones) went on as the happy tears rolled down my face. I was, and I am, so proud of them. Every time I hear that song it reminds me of ABC's and the boggie and party with the whole school which we had towards the end of song. And, at that moment I couldn't have wanted for anything more, and I still don't. To see their smiles, hear their laughter and see how proud their families were, words cannot describe. It was a huge success. My first musical in an unfamiliar country, and I hope it won't be my last (Tammy's already said I'm coming back to do ABC's and
Rice the musical 2013), with amazing kids that don't speak fluent English and using music for not only communication and happiness but to bring everyone together.
And without Tammy this school wouldn't even be here. She's done more than an ammmmmazing job setting up and running ABC's school - she lives and breathes ABC's and it shows because the children, who without her would have nothing, have hope, education and a safety net; they are part of a family. It's truly inspirational.
The BEST day EVER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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- comments
Mum Aw Beth, What can I say, I needed a tissue after reading this. I did laugh out loud at the thought of you in a tuk tuk with 170 t-shirts,300 bananas and 3kg crisps......and arriving 3hrs early is just typical of you. So proud Beth. Mum x