Grumbling Gryphons

More than 20 years ago, the Grumbling Gryphons, a traveling children’s theater group from Cornwall, CT, came to Botelle School and performed the play, The Ghost Net. This week they returned and did a repeat performance of the same play, wowing students, staff and family members in attendance. Two parents in the audience remembered watching the play when they were students at Botelle!

The Ghost Net is an environmental play about protecting the oceans from pollution. 20 students from grades 3-6 participated in a workshop and learned songs and movements for 3 different scenes in the play. The play is designed for students to participate and the performers frequently asked students questions, encouraging choral responses and singing, throughout the play. The student actors became tropical fish for one scene, singing and swimming while holding colorful tropical fish puppets. Other students were trash monsters. They dressed up in costumes made of recycled objects like plastic bags, netting, plastic six pack rings, fast food containers and other single use plastics. They moved, grooved and sang along with their leader, “Sludge” whose goal was to pollute the ocean.  At the end of the play, all of the student actors worked together to remove a dangerous fishing net, (the ghost net), from the ocean so creatures wouldn’t get stuck in it and perish.

Students enjoyed the colorful scenery and dazzling costumes. Thanks to our dedicated PTO for bringing this cultural event to Botelle.  If your child is interested in theater, the Grumbling Gryphons run two summer theater camps for children. They are celebrating 45 years and also having a celebratory Gala in August.