GREENFIELD — A chorus rang through the gymnasium.
“You get what you get and you don’t get upset.” The maxim interrupted the giggles by a couple of hundred kids at Newton School watching a production of “Pinkalicious” by Deerfield Academy, Wednesday afternoon.
The high school took its play, directed by Catriona Hynds, to the gym stage in Greenfield for the second time in the past three years, presenting a version of the popular children’s book.
All week, Newton teachers read to their students the book about friends and working together.
“You feel like you’re on Broadway,” Principal Melodie Goodwin said about Deerfield Academy’s plays.
The kids, mostly wearing pink in anticipation of the play and in celebration of spirit week, were certainly into it — from reacting in unison to their favorite lines from the book to groaning at the thought of broccoli popsicles.
As a part of the school’s enrichment learning time (ELT), the students were able to conclude their day with a “pinktastic” performance.
They were engaged throughout the performance, complete with its own costumes and set designs. When the lead asked the audience where is the cupcake, they quickly pointed to its place behind the head of the lead in excitement. And some students enjoyed repeating the “dab” dance move by one of the characters in the play.
For Deerfield Academy it was important to come back to Newton after performing a previous children’s play two years ago.
“That experience was so nice of being here,” said Adaire Robinson, assistant director and theater teacher at Deerfield Academy. “(Hynds) couldn’t imagine doing a tour of the show and not coming back to this school because it was so wonderful the first time around.”
It was the first time Deerfield Academy performed “Pinkalicious” in front of a live audience.
“I’ve seen this show a hundred times and today it felt like new,” student assistant director Kaycie Sweeney said. “I almost cried.”
Hynds chose to put on a performance of “Pinkalicious” not only because of her and her family’s enjoyment of the children’s book, but also to commemorate its 10-year anniversary. In general, children’s theater is very important to Hynds and her staff.
“It’s the most important type of theater,” Robinson said, noting Hynds’ philosophy. “The first play a child sees will totally dictate whether they will ever see another play.”
When the play was over, kids exited the gymnasium-turned-theater to high-five the pink procession of the cast. One student echoed a popular feeling of the day, “I love the color pink!”
Future performance are scheduled for the YMCA in Greenfield and other local schools.
There will be three open to the public, free shows of “Pinkalicious” at the Deerfield Academy Black Box Theater, Friday, Feb. 24, at 7 p.m. and two on Saturday, Feb. 25 — one at 10 a.m. and then next at 2 p.m. Seating is limited.