Jean Marie River (Dec 12/03) - Now that they've seen the professionals perform, students from Louie Norwegian school have a better feel for how to put on a theatre production for themselves.

Seventeen students, accompanied by school staff and a community chaperon, travelled to Edmonton late last month to see two operas. They went to the Northern Alberta Jubilee auditorium to see Turandot and the following night they took in an adaptation of Jack and the Beanstalk.

Wanda Norwegian, a classroom assistant, said there were some really high-pitched and amazing voices in Turandot. It was her first time seeing anything of its kind.

"I think it was just so beautiful," Norwegian said.

It was a dress rehearsal that lasted about two-and-a-half hours. The Giacomo Puccini opera is set in Peking, China but was sung in Italian. A teleprompter with English translation was provided for the audience. The adults explained some of the events to the youngsters, but they were still spellbound by the stage drama, teacher Linda Urban said.

"The children were quite intrigued as it went on. They were leaning on their seats, just watching very quietly," she said.

She arranged the trip after seeing a television commercial for Edmonton Opera. The students and staff were even acknowledged in the crowd by Tuarandot's director, she noted.

Brought tears to his eyes

"He told the audience where we came from and they all applauded us," she said. "The director said we brought tears to his eyes, that we would come all that way with all these children."

Afterwards, the Jean Marie contingent was invited backstage so they "saw everything and everybody," according to Urban.

The next night they attended Jack and the Beanstalk, which 10-year-old Ariel Sanguez said made her laugh. "Jack is funnier and the giant a little bit meaner," she said of the portrayals.

Urban said students at Louie Norwegian are interested in hosting their own operettas and musicals in the future.