I just saw Alex Dreier in "
And A Child Shall Lead", a story of struggle, perseverance, and hope in the worst of situations. The ensemble cast of 8 is entirely young people as young as 6 who bring to life the experiences of the children in Terezin, a Nazi concentration camp. The children defy the rules by running a school, making a newspaper, and creating art, never allowing their spirit to be destroyed by hate. Some of the actual poems written by the children of Terezin are included in the show.
We got hint of Alex's speaking ability at the BETM Farewell Celebration. He builds on that in this show, where he has a major speaking role. We also get to hear him sing a small solo and with the rest of the cast; he has a beautiful voice. Alex and the rest of the cast were very effective story-tellers. They communicated authentically their fears, their hopes, and the little pieces of joy they were able to find. All the cast were excellent. In addition to Alex, I want to mention Ryan Jones, who managed his character's transformation with a compelling intensity.
The show is dark, but is not without relief. Their imitation of the creation of a Nazi propaganda film and a simple puppet show where funny, fitting, and helped to tell the broader story to the audience, which almost filled the 99 seats of the theatre.
I had the chance to reconnect with many of Alex's family and friends who were in the audience, including some familiar faces from Thommie Retter's tap class. Great to see everyone again.
There are just two more shows: Saturday at 4:00 and 8:30 PM. Don't miss this!
