Before the play, the students, directed by music teacher Matthew Nord, sang Christmas carols and played instruments. Pictured back (L-R): Kyle deRonnebeck , Land Neudecker and Maggie Applegate. Front (L-R): Abbie Applegate, Mabel Hessler, William Applegate and Chloe Sharp.
Little rich girl Bessie Blithesome (Abbie Applegate), accompanied by guard (Silas Hessler), holds the first doll created by Claus. She convinced him that rich children deserve to receive toys as well as the poor.
Claus (Sawyer Hessler) talks with his adopted mother, the fairy Necile (Matilda Hessler).
Wisk (Maggie Applegate- face turned away) tells the other elves Jolly (William Applegate, front), Peter (Silas Hessler, back left) and Holly (Loryn Neudecker, back right) that Claus has been captured and they must rescue him.
King Awgwa (Abby deRonnebeck) schemes awful plots with Crazy Awgwa (Land Neudecker).
Claus is captured by the bad Awgwas and taken to a hidden cave. Pictured (L-R): Kyle deRonnebeck, Sawyer Hessler, Silas Hessler, William Applegate, and community member Angela Williams (back).
OVANDO – Though COVID canceled Ovando School's Dec. 16 play, on Jan. 12 the Ovando community put their holiday spirit back on and gathered to enjoy the students' performance of "The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus."
Based on the book of the same name by L. Frank Baum (author of "The Wizard of Oz") and converted into play form by R. Eugene Jackson, the script was an ambitious production for the small student body. Many of the students played two and some even three different roles, necessitating a number of costume changes between scenes.
The story related how Claus, an orphaned human baby raised by a fairy, created the first toy, which he gave away to a child. Realizing many other children desired similar playthings, Claus dedicated himself to making and delivering toys, first to the local children and eventually to all the children of the world. The storyline furnishes explanations of why rich children as well as poor ones receive gifts at Christmas, how Santa Claus gained his full name, why he uses the chimney for entrance into homes, how the elves became his toy-making helpers, how he received a special sleigh and reindeer to help him on his trip around the world, and other curious peculiarities of the Santa Claus legend.
But Claus' path was not always easy. The Awful Awgwas, creatures who derive joy from the sorrows of others, at one point steal all the children's toys and hide them in a cave. They even kidnap Santa himself, necessitating a rescue by the elves.
As with most student plays involving young children, the occasional slips, gaffs and need for adult prompting made the production that much more endearing to the parents and friends of the performers. Friendly laughter ensued when Claus mused aloud, "I wonder if other children would like toys?" and a little voice from the audience called out, "I would like a toy."
Another incident first that tickled the audience came after an overlong pause in the narration finally caused one of the older cast members to lean down and prompt a kindergartner. With a dramatic arm flourish, the young actress delivered her line: "What!"
The play was sprinkled with a few songs. "We are the Awgwas, awful, awful Agwas" was delivered with special gusto by actors and actresses, some of whom had recently appeared as good children and elves.
In the end, Santa Claus is granted immortality so that he can continue his work of delivering toys to all the children of the world.
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