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Arohanui and Hansel and Gretel
We were extremely lucky to receive tickets to the Royal New Zealand Ballet performance of Hansel and Gretel. It was the first time some of us attended a performance at the Aotea Centre.
This Hansel and Gretel was a bit different from the traditional story and we loved the jazzy music, beautiful costumes and sparkly set. Gianna, Cael and Natasha shared some writing with us.
Oh my gosh! We were so high up in the theatre. First, we sat atop a red flip up chair. It felt a little coarse. My number was 65. We had to wait for the lights to turn off so that the ballet could start. It took forever.
Before the ballet began the narrator came out to greet us. She explained the characters, Hansel and Gretel, a queen and a king of the fairies, the sandman, the ice cream witch and Hansel and Gretel’s parents.
The story started with Hansel and Gretel dancing into the house of the Ice Cream Witch. The witch fed them enormous cakes. They ate and ate and ate until they could eat no more and fell fast asleep.
When Hansel wakes up, he finds himself trapped in a time cage. Gretel tried to get him out while the witch was getting the oven ready. The witch got distracted and Gretel was able to push her into the oven. That was the end of the witch. She freed her brother.
The music was loud again as the characters danced and celebrated until there was a glittery sign which said “The End” The narrator returned and when she finally said, “Holy Cross Catholic School you can go.” I said to myself in my head, “Victory. Victory” because I was tired of sitting on my red, itchy chair.
The ballet was really extremely fun because the dancing was so graceful.
by Gianna
“Ha Ha ha.” cackled the Ice Cream Witch. I heard music, jazzy music and then the show began.
First, when I arrived I entered the ballet theatre. It looked amazing with sparkling lights everywhere. We waited until a lady came and asked us, “Are you ready?” Yes, yes said the whole class and then it started.
Suddenly, we saw Hansel and Gretel walking in the woods and they found an Ice Cream House. It looked so delightful and yummy. It looked so sweet and sugary like it could melt in my mouth. Along came Hansel and Gretel and into the house they went. “Wow” they said “Thank you for letting us come into your house.”
The witch made them sit down and her ice cream servants gave Hansel and Gretel pink cakes. The witch asked her servants to bring larger and larger cakes. The servants rushed about to get the cakes. Hansel and Gretel nibbled around the edges of the cakes. Something in those cakes made Hansel and Gretel fall asleep.
When Hansel woke he found himself locked in a silver cage. While the witch was stoking the fire Gretel pushed her into the oven and freed Hansel. They danced away home.
Ballet is an elegant dance. At home I tried my best to show mum what I had seen.
by Natasha
Oh my goodness, we were up so high that I felt dizzy. We were watching Act two of Hansel and Gretel.
The funny part was when the pink ice cream characters were shaking their behinds. The music was great, the moves were funny.
First I saw that Hansel and Gretel’s clothes looked magical because they were under a spell. Along came the sparkly, pink Ice Cream Witch in her huge ice cream house. Hansel and Gretel ate lots of cakes until they passed out.
Then everything changes. The Ice Cream Witch showed us her true face. She had been disguised. She was actually an ugly, green faced witch. The ice cream witch had put Hansel into a black cage. Hansel woke up. He was surprised and rattled his cage to try and wake up Gretel.
Luckily, Gretel woke up and saved the day. She pushed the ugly witch into the red hot oven and freed Hansel. Hansel and Gretel pointed their toes and danced away.
by Cael
