Around 90 Year 4 students attending St Theresa College Birkirkara Primary School, together with their teachers and Learning Support Assistants, recently staged the musical The Button Box, by John Gleadall, during Prize Day which was organised by the school.
Enthusiasm built up over the two months' span preceding the big event, especially during the final rehearsals. A lot of hard work had gone into the production. There was all-round cooperation from the school administration, the four teachers (Ms Grima, Ms Bajada, Ms Mercieca, Ms Spiteri) and the Learning Support Assistants (Ms Vella, Ms Stellini, Ms Muscat, Ms Vella), and all the children who took part.
Most of the numerous eye-catching props were prepared during mid-week activities or finished off by individuals or groups of children at home - doubtlessly helped by their ever cooperative parents. The songs' lyrics were practised during rehearsals, and also during music lessons with Ms Curmi. Their art teacher, Ms Attard, also helped in doing drawings related to one of the songs in the musical.
In the musical, two children, Jack and Alice, staying with their grandparents, are bored as the rain keeps them inside. They accidentally knock over Grandma's button box (which gives this musical its name), spilling an array of buttons and what-nots onto the floor.
They ask Grandma to tell them where certain buttons came from, and the story behind each button is revealed in a beautiful song.
Through this approach the audience is introduced to the other characters in the musical - the Aborigines, Chinese, Jamaican, African and Indian.
Together with the songs in the musical, another song, the well-known local song Il-Karozzin, by The Greenfields, was added so as to give a Maltese touch to the production. The Button Box is an outstanding collection of songs with a 'round the world' flavour, which was chosen specifically because it highlights the diversity existing in our beautiful world. The children were taught how to appreciate and respect this diversity.
Throughout the preparations, the participating children had the opportunity to learn about different cultures, including dancing, musical instruments and clothing. They also learnt about different food and animals found in each country. The lyrics of the songs, which were explained to the children, helped them understand the different ways of life in each country. This was complemented with thematic lessons on the subject.
Towards the end of the musical, Grandma sews a pyjama button onto Alice's pyjamas, and narrates the last story about this button. At the end of the musical, the audience clapped so vigorously! Clearly, all the children rose to the situation, making teachers, learning support assistants, parents and the school staff very proud. And judging by the response from appreciative pupils, parents and special guests in the audience, The Button Box was truly an intercultural celebration!