KELSEY, Alta. – The Big Bad Wolf was found not guilty May 31 of causing the Three Little Pigs post traumatic stress disorder in a close decision by a jury at the Kelsey hall.
The audience of mostly parents and grandparents, acting also as jury, voted by a show of hand clapping after the Kelsey 4-H Stars-to-be Drama Club performed Pigs in Court for its achievement day.
Ms. R “Bobbi” Bobcat, lawyer for B.B. Wolf, convinced the jury it was time to put the bedtime story about her client to rest. She convinced them his appearance at the doors of the Three Little Pigs’ homes was only because he was doing his job as Woodland County building inspector and not because he was intent on harming the pigs.
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During the evening performance for more relatives and friends, and as a fundraising event for the Stollery Children’s Hospital, Mr. William Goat, lawyer for the Three Little Pigs, convinced the audience his clients had suffered post traumatic stress disorder by B.B. Wolf and that the wolf was not a vegetarian.
Pigs in Court isn’t the usual 4-H achievement day event with cattle or horses, but the drama portion of 4-H has become more popular since its birth at Kelsey 11 years ago when farmer and project leader Gerry Pilger worked with the provincial 4-H branch to develop a drama program.
Today, about 112 4-H members are involved in 12 clubs across Alberta with some kind of drama content.
“It’s certainly blossomed in a short time,” said Sheralyn Dobos, general leader of the Kelsey club and a former 4-H beef club member.
Dobos said she enjoyed her time in 4-H as a child, and was pleased to learn her city-raised children could join the program.
“It occurred to me it sure would be nice to have the kids in 4-H, but I wasn’t aware of the options,” said Dobos of Camrose.
Not only has the interest in 4-H drama clubs grown, Dobos has seen the children in the club become confident public speakers and aspiring thespians.
“It’s amazing to see the kids develop,” said Dobos, mother of Kalynn, who played Ms. R. “Bobbi” Bobcat and Carlee, the Third Little Pig.
While every 4-H club has a public speaking requirement, the drama club members gain more confidence through their time on stage.
“This is like communication all year long,” she said.
Devon Hunter said she wouldn’t have joined 4-H if the only option had been the traditional beef or horse club. After five years in the drama club, Hunter realized she wants to pursue a career in acting and enrolled in the drama program at the University of Alberta’s Augustana campus this fall.
“Because of 4-H I’ve learned that ‘hey, I enjoy this,’ ” said Hunter of Meeting Creek, who played Dr. I.M. Lion-ess, the play’s expert witness in post traumatic stress disorder.
Hunter said 4-H is one of the few activities where she gets to mingle with younger children.
“There are not a lot of things I do that involve a lot of nine-year-olds.”
The Kelsey club has 14 members ranging from nine to 18. This year’s play allowed all the kids to be on stage throughout the entire play as cast members in the courtroom comedy.
Kim Wolbeck’s cousin convinced her to join the 4-H drama club. Wolbeck loves the field trips to other plays, workshops on theatre and even the highway garbage clean-up days.
“There are so many good opportunities and fun stuff,” said Wolbeck of Heisler, Alta., who played Mr. William Goat, lawyer for the Three Little Pigs.
After the monthly meeting part of the club, where members polish their parliamentary procedure and meetings skills, the members learn how to write plays, develop characters and build stage sets.
This year members were in charge of finding costumes for their animal characters and building the courtroom set. It was the members’ idea to swap five gallon buckets for chairs and homemade troughs for courtroom tables and a saddle for a witness stand.
In previous years, the drama club has used the set already in place from the Kelsey Dinner Theatre’s spring play.
Sharing the same community hall as the dinner theatre, complete with stage lights and sound system, has created a synergy for the hamlet of Kelsey, the theatre group and the 4-H club. The hamlet gets life injected back into its community, the theatre gets potential new members and the 4-H club gets the use of the theatre’s equipment and expertise.
“It’s a great facility for us. It’s an intimate theatre and a great home for the club,” said Dobos.
Lynn Thygesen, whose three daughters have all participated in the drama program, said her children have gained confidence because of their involvement in the club. Since joining, her children have volunteered for musical performances at their church and have brought their debating skills to family discussions at the supper table.
“It’s a good way of learning how to present their views and make their case. They argue the pros and cons,” said Thygesen of Camrose.
