RESEDA : Courtroom Play to Raise Funds for History Trip

Most of us know the story of Little Red Riding Hood and her close call with the Big Bad Wolf. Or, do we?

Next Wednesday, in a play called “And Justice For All,” a group of fifth-graders at Shirley Avenue Elementary School in Reseda will stage a trial to determine whether the wolf is really guilty of the heinous crimes he’d been accused of for centuries.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we will prove that the horrid story of poor William Wolf and that dreadful girl, Rachel, otherwise known as ‘Red,’ is not only untrue, but downright disrespectful to wolves,” announced William Helseth, who plays the wolf’s defense attorney, during a Wednesday rehearsal.

The play is based on a book by Della Rowland called “Lil’ Red Riding Hood & The Wolf’s Tale.” Its theme deals with how new truths can be found in old stories by re-examining them.

The fifth-graders have been diligently rehearsing their roles in the mock trial for weeks because they believe that the play may help them revisit events shaping more than just a fairy tale.

To cap a year of American history lessons, the fifth graders are attempting to raise funds for a five-day trip to Valley Forge, Pa., and Washington, D.C. The trip next month will include visits to the White House, the U. S. Capitol and Amish territory in Pennsylvania.

In attempts to shape a performance worthy of raising the $650 still needed for the expedition, fifth-grade teacher Joan Faqir, the play’s director, has been working hard with the novice actors.

“Louder!” she bellowed at Red Riding Hood. “And slow down. People, if we want a good performance, the audience has to be able to know what we’re saying.”

The students took her cues and, eventually, reached a groove.

“It’s easy to remember my lines,” said Robert Marcial, who plays the wolf. “I just pretend that they’re a poem.”

Though their plane does not leave until June 3, Faqir said the students have already gone a long way in rediscovering the country’s past. According to Faqir, the students have been engaged in projects that require them to reinterpret major events in American history.

For example, Faqir said, the students kept journals detailing imaginary trips with historical figures such as Neil Armstrong and Lewis & Clark.

“We wanted to give them deeper perspective on historical events,” she said.Both the play and the trip to the East Coast are extensions of that goal, added Steve Friedman, the school’s principal. “Through the play, the students have learned about how trials operate and about the Constitution.”

Visiting historical landmarks, Friedman said, will give the students some perspective on Colonial times.

Besides history, the students appear to be learning something else.

“These children need to learn to strive for excellence. Only when they do their best can they be proud of themselves,” Faqir said.

Tickets to the play, which will be staged at 6 p.m. at the school auditorium, are $7, including dinner. For more information, call (818) 342-6183.