PIRATES and sailors took over the Aria Community Hall on Thursday night to perform under lights to a full crowd. The students of Aria School stepped into quirky characters and delivered jokes which had the entire audience laughing during their production of Pirates of the Curry Bean. The play followed Periwinkle twins Liza (Christine Pai) and Jack (Aria Newton) as they searched for their mother (Maddy Darke) who had been kidnapped by pirates. The adventurous siblings found themselves aboard the HMS ‘Crunchy Frog’ with an admiral (Chloe Darke) who got his position through a healthy dose of nepotism and a saw wielding surgeon/ lookout (Mila Ormsby), who was introduced facing in the wrong direction. Principal Pam Voyce said every student from the school was involved in the production, as well as all members of staff. All the key roles, both on stage and off, were performed by students – which was just how Pam said she liked school productions to be. “It’s the kids’ thing, I don’t want the adults involved.” The outline of the set’s backdrop, a massive beach scene, was drawn by a relief teacher and then painted by students. Pam said it was the responsibility of the students to organise all props and they took care of all music, sound and lighting during the performance. Students performed twice on the same day, with a matinee at 11am and evening performance at 7pm. Pam estimated 130 children attended the matinee session from schools as far away as Whareorino and at least as many adults.
