Students prepare for ‘Jungle Book’ staging

Performances will be held Dec. 8 and 9 in the Alexander Batcho Intermediate School gym.

By: Donna Lukiw
   Alexander Batcho Intermediate School eighth-grader Claire Kondash has been practicing her lines and her songs every day after school along with 12 other students in preparation for "The Jungle Book" school play.
   "We practice the songs to make sure the notes are right," Claire, who leads as Mowgli, said. "We practice our lines. We’re just starting to go on stage and have dress rehearsal."
   Claire was chosen to play Mowgli, even though the character is a male, since there was only one boy auditioning for the play.
   "We only have one boy and she was best for the part, nicest voice and confidence as well," play director Leslie Strauss said about Claire.
   The play begins when Mowgli, a boy who has been raised by wolves in the Indian jungle, is urged by his friend Bagheera, a wise old panther, to seek safety in the man village.
   When the wolves hear that the tiger, Shere Kahn, played by seventh-grader Jake Caswell, is nearby, they decide to send Mowgli to a local "man tribe." On his way to the village, Mowgli meets many animal characters in this musical including a monkey played by eighth-grader Anna Isachenko. When Shere Kahn learns of Mowgli’s presence, he tracks him down and fights him.
   The play is filled with many songs and colors including a background piece that the students have been painting to look like a jungle.
   "My favorite part is the chase scene with Shere Kahn because I have to run away from him," Claire said. "Everyone’s in it and it’s all over the place."
   Anna said she’s also excited about her scenes as a monkey in the jungle and hopes a lot of her friends and other residents come to see the play.
   "I’m hoping a lot of people come and support us," Anna said. "We’ve been practicing long hard weeks."
   Steven Sallach, Manville High School teacher, is the assistant director for the play.
   The characters of the "Jungle Book" will on stage from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 8 and 9 in the ABIS gym.
   Tickets are $3 for senior citizens and students and $5 for adults.