My congratulations to Cumberland Performing Arts for their performance of The Lion King, Thursday May 2. There are a number of theatre schools around Metro and the province but I have not seen any with the high standards that Cumberland Performing Arts have achieved.

The Lion King was well supported backstage, with entrances both from the audience and the stage. How ever do you keep that many children under control? Technically, the sound and lights we bang on. The costumes creative, apropos and flowed well on stage. In order to avoid burn out, you might consider providing Ms. Shears some sewers. By way of comparison, Dartmouth Players have a team of one lead and four costumiers for our upcoming cast of 12.

The old saying goes, there are no small roles, just small actors. What I saw last night was professional level in every aspect, the children’s ability to fill the stage, their ability to take direction and implement choreographed moves on the right foot and in time, their ability to convey the meaning of the story, their ability to use their props, to know their lines and to stay in their well developed characters. Humor was dealt with lightly and I was extremely pleased to see they didn’t walk over their laugh lines. All the speaking roles gave such solid and consistent performances, I mean it as a compliment to say there were no bright lights, they were all stars. There was not one weak link in the whole company. Every child was on mark for their role, every child was 100 percent committed to the success of the production.

Cumberland County truly has a gem of a theatre school. It is evident that every child is considered important and a valued member of the troupe. These students whether they go on to careers in the performing arts industry or not; they have learned many skills that they will draw on for their whole lives.

Kudos and Bravo on a fantastic production.

Holly Irving - producer Dartmouth Players.

I think this is a wonderful thing for Oxford for having the young people of the community being given the change to take part in something so amazing when they are young. I grew up in Oxford and they never had anything like this for the young people of the community. There was some things at the High school, but not to this extent and not for the younger ones. So happy that Oxford is doing well in this regard. God bless you them all.! Marg (nee VanBuskirk)