LMHS To Present "The House At Pooh Corner"

"This (play) is intended to be enjoyed by all ages," said Dean Sauder, director of "The House at Pooh Corner," the Lancaster Mennonite High School fall play.

Sauder mentioned that the show also celebrates the unification of Lancaster Mennonite School's elementary, middle, and high schools all on one campus. "Since we have elementary kids on campus, we will do a children's theater for our fall show," said Sauder.

"The House at Pooh Corner," based on the stories by A.A. Milne, will be staged in the High Fine Arts Center, 2176 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster, on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, Oct. 27, 28, and 29, at 7 p.m. and on Sunday, Oct. 30, at 3 p.m.

The story of "The House at Pooh Corner" is told through the eyes of 6-year-old Christopher Robin, played by Julia Fisher. On a beautiful morning in the Hundred Acre Wood, Winnie the Pooh, played by Tessa Kennedy; Piglet, played by Kay Beidler; Eeyore, played by Eli Heinsey; Rabbit, played by Jaz Shanahan; and their friends are called to a meeting by Christopher Robin, who tells them that he will be going away to something called "education." Grappling with the unknown, they all decide to run away to the South Pole; however, before they can leave, they encounter a bouncy creature, played by Sim Spurrier, who destroys the home of Owl, played by Noah Niehans.

As the 12 cast members rehearse the play, the students are working to create three-dimensional characters from the flat ones readers know from books and on the screen. "The one caution I gave them is to develop the character in their own way," said Sauder.

Facing that challenge, the students are working to portray complexity in the characters while retaining the delight of their simplicity.

Laura Rosario, who plays Kanga, pointed out that the story sometimes presents complex topics through the eyes of a child. "(It's a challenge) trying to add depth (while) remembering that it's a kids' show and Christopher Robin himself is a child," she noted.

Beidler added that the characters are "very distinct." "It's like you're playing a personality (trait) rather than a character," said Spurrier, who pointed out that Eeyore represents sadness, Pooh is kindness, and Tigger is energy. "It's (fun) finding where your character falls on that spectrum," he said.

Spurrier noted that the characters are iconic and familiar. Fisher agreed, pointing out that all the characters are manifestations of Christopher Robin's imagination. "It's difficult to find Christopher Robin's personality because he doesn't have a distinct emotion like other characters," she said. Beidler added that because Christopher Robin created the characters, they are magnified extensions of himself.

Tickets, which are necessary to attend, are available on a "pay what you can" basis at http://www.lancastermennonite.org/events/lmh-fall-play-2022-the-house-of-pooh-corner.