Mulan Honors Tradition

By: Alyssa Toci

Mulan Jr. opened on September 23 at 7:00 p.m. in the Willow Canyon High School auditorium. It also played on September 24 at 7:00 p.m., and Septmber 25 at both 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Tickets were $15 for adults and $10 for students and chil­dren at the door.

Mulan Jr. is about a girl who is expected to bring her family great honor by marry­ing and bearing sons, the traditional way of bringing honor to one’s family. But when Mulan fails her matchmaking test, everyone questions how Mulan is going to bring honor to her family.

When Chi Fu, the Chinese army’s scriber, announces China’s fiercest enemy, the Huns, have invaded China, Mulan’s father is called off to war. However, her father is inflicted by old battle wounds and is unable to go.

Mulan decides to take his place by pre­tending to be a man. During her journey with the Chinese army, Mulan makes new friends, meeets Captain Shang, starts to un­derstand the ways set down by her ancestors and learns the importance of writing her own destiny in stone

Director and senior Abigail Herbert said, “I am directing Mulan Jr. I chose this show because it is one of my childhood favorites, and I think we have the right people to per­form it exquisitely.”

The cast features junior Melissa Kamel as Mulan, senior Christian Hall as Mushu, junior Dakota Nunez as Shan Yu and Theo Berger as the combat director.

“I am taking the play version and com­bining it with the traditional Chinese theatre aspects and throwing it into the mix. And by doing so, this play will be extremely unique, but you will still be able to recognize your favorite childhood scenes, songs and charac­ters,” said Herbert.

Songs included in the play are: “I’ll Make a Man out of You,” “Honor to Us All,” “A Girl Worth Fighting For,” and “Reflection”.

One of the busiest days for Mulan Jr. was opening night. On Thursday, the audito­rium was packed with people. Students also spent all of Friday at school performing for their peers. On Friday, September 24, the cast of Mulan Jr played four shows in a row and a fifth show at 7:00 p.m. that same day. Saturday was also packed with people, both the 2:00 p.m. showing and the 7:00 p.m. showing.

For more information about Willow Canyon’s Theatre Troupe, go to http://www.inthespotlight6901.com.