Roberto Ercoli as the ogre and David Jackson as the table slave in the University Players production of “Sleeping Beauty.”Roberto Ercoli as the ogre and David Jackson as the table slave in the University Players production of “Sleeping Beauty.”

Sleeping Beauty provides wake-up call to attentive student audience

Attending a special schoolday performance Monday of Sleeping Beauty was better than being in class, said Breanna Stamcoff, a grade six student at LaSalle’s École Monseigneur Augustin Caron.

“It’s really funny,” she said during intermission of the University Players production. “I like how the plants and ogres keep eating people.”

According to Irena Gorelick, a teacher at Forster Secondary School who accompanied about 80 high school students to the performance, the best part is that attending live theatre is educational.

“For about 90 percent of the students, this is their first experience of live theatre,” she said. “We have been talking about Shakespeare in class. It was very important for them to see what a stage is like, what it’s like to sit in an audience.”

Her colleague Carolyn Vogt said the students appeared impressed with the quality of the show.

“They have been enjoying it so far,” said Vogt. “They’re paying attention, they’re quiet—they must be getting caught up in it.”

Performances of the play, a holiday twist on the classic children’s tale, continue through December 1 at Essex Hall Theatre. For information or tickets, call 519-253-3000, ext. 2808 or visit www.UniversityPlayers.com.