Fifth graders perform Civil War play
The cafeteria at Pine Island Elementary School was filled Thursday night for the fifth grade play, “Brother vs. Brother,” which depicted the Civil War.
PIES Principal Rob Mazzoli told the crowd before the play began that his fifth grade students have been working really hard on the play for the last couple of weeks.
“You are in for a treat,” he said, sharing that he was excited for everyone to see the play.
Jerrin Coonrod, the main character of “Brother vs. Brother,” said the play meant a lot to him.
“This play meant a lot to me because it really showed my characteristics,” he said. “I am excited to be the main character.”
The biggest lesson he took away from the play was that a lot of times families went to war and brothers fought against each other.
Jerrin’s favorite part of the play was when he got to go off to war because he had the opportunity to wear the nice soldier uniform.
He said he really did enjoy the play.
Aaron Jackson, Dangerous Curves Productions manager and coach who works with the school, said the kids have truly worked hard on the play. Thursday night was the third time they performed the play on that day alone.
The cast was set the second week of school, which was followed by one day a week rehearsal for the first month, two days of rehearsal the second month and three days of rehearsal the third month.
Jackson said outside of understanding the Civil War, the fifth grade students learned team work and time management due to homework that was given to the students to learn the back-story of their characters. In addition, he said the students also learned respect for each other, as well as how to handle pressure of acting in a play.
This is the third year Jackson has directed a play for the students of Pine Island Elementary School. He hopes to direct a total of nine plays.