The real Cinderella

By Karen Raffaelo

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Lake Toho has an outside presentation by the arts community, as a yearly event. This year was a retelling of Cinderella, in a one-man show; written, directed, and presented by Thomas Wood.

“My version goes more into the mythological parts of the stories,” Wood explains, “the dark and gory parts that Disney forgot.”

Wood has been professionally acting for eight years; he has performed at Mad Cow many times. But this was his first time performing his own work.

The adult version of Cinderella did gather a crowd of young teens and some children. The topics of sex, drugs, and violence did have effects on the crowd.

“I love this, all the characters are messed up,” Krissy DeJesus, a local high school student.

There is a sexually crazed prince, sisters who mutilate themselves, a stepmother who plans a murder, and Cinderella is smoking something that makes her hallucinate.

“It is not for young children, but it’s really nothing more than a PG-13 movie,” Courtney Young mistakenly brought her younger children to the event. Her teenager daughter attended the event as extra credit in her drama class.

The show seemed to go well, and many guests talked with Wood after the event.

“I have small dreams,” Wood laughs, “I make them come true every time I act in front of a crowd.”

Time with Toddlers

By Karen Raffaelo

KISSIMMEE,Fla.–Hart Memorial Central Library was filled Saturday, with loud music, some giggles, and young developing minds.

The Lillie room on the second floor has Toddler Tales in between naptime and lunchtime to get the younger children some personal time with their mothers and to get them interacting with other children. Lisa Walker is the local storyteller for the library, she's been an assertive volunteer at the library since her retirement from teaching three years ago.

“It helps them to build on their language skills and their personality skills,” Lisa Walker explains.

The children, ranging from 1 up to 3 years, can be seen communicating and using problem solving skills during games and activity time, and then comprehending during story time.

Walker host the event dressed up, sometimes as characters from the books, sometimes in PJ’s for certain events, and sometimes just in seasonal costumes. "Imagination is really important at this age," Walker explains.

The children love the event and became very captivated when Walker started her show. Rachel Lopez, a mother at the event said that, “now when books are competing with TV it’s hard to find things like these, but it’s nice when you do.” Most mothers agreed.

Amanda Kregel, a three-year-old stated simply, “she’s so cool.”