By: Paige Jones
Staff writer/photgrapher
“A Peter Rabbit Tale” is a story full of valuable life lessons, relatable humor and eye-catching performances. Peter is the youngest of three rabbits, and his older sisters are constantly messing with him and expecting him to help out with chores. Peter decides he has enough and leaves home on a mission to find a different home where he never has to work or be around mean older sisters. On this quest, Peter encounters many obstacles. Narrowly escaping Mr. McGregor, being eaten by an owl and encountering a furry feline, he seeks to find a place he fits in. After all of Peter’s attempts at finding a new family, he finally decides his family is the best family for him.
The small but close-knit cast pride themselves on the wonderful performances they were able to put on for IU South Bend’s performing arts department.
“We spent a lot of time rehearsing, a lot of late nights and long hours, so we kinda became a family,” Natasha O’Hara speaks about the cast’s closeness to one another during rehearsals.
Debuting for her first production as lead character Peter Rabbit, Hailey Felton recounts how she felt playing the part of Peter. “I was beyond nervous. I’d never been in anything, and now I’m playing the lead role, but I loved every second of it. The songs, the beautiful costumes and props and the awesome cast really made this production so much better.”
The cast was able to perform multiple times in front of local elementary schools and the public as their final comes to a close. “I really enjoyed talking to the kids afterwards. They’re all so sweet and energetic,” Lila Beard remarks as she wraps up her final performance for “A Peter Rabbit Tale”.
Cast List
Peter Rabbit…………………………………Hailey Felton
Flopsy/Mice…………………………………Danielle Makombe
Nutkin/Mice/Johnny Town Mouse………..Tierny Ferguson
Mopsy/Jeremy Fisher……………………..Isaac King
Mr.McGregor’s & Owl Voice/Puppeteer….M. Evans
Simpkin/Owl/Tailor voice/Puppeteer……..Hayden Wickham
Simpkin Voice/ Owl/ Puppeteer…………..Lila Beard
Benjamin/Twinkleberry…………………….Natasha O’Hara
Mother/Thomasina..………………………Shanya Nichole
Mrs. Tiggywinkle…………………………..Kelly Thomann
