Moana Jr

Moana Jr staged by Chorley Youth Theatre at Chorley Theatre, Dole Lane, Chorley on Saturday, 13th July 2024.

Disney’s Moana JR is a sixty-minute adaptation of Disney’s 2016 animated film, which brings the adventures of Moana and her village of Motunui to life on stage. Adapted from a book by Susan Soon He Stanton with music and lyrics by the prize-winning composers Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foa’i and Mark Mancina it tells the story of Moana, an adventurous teenager who, with help from mighty demigod Maui, sails out on a daring mission across the open ocean, encountering huge monsters and impossible odds to prove herself a ‘Master Wayfinder’ and fulfil the ancient quest of her ancestors ... to save her people! From the moment I first saw this movie back in 2016, I was ‘hooked’, it became MY all-time Disney favourite. My eldest granddaughter and I must have sat through this movie at least thirty times … at one point we were watching it every other day!  The movie provides us with powerful statements that resonated so much with me, ‘like finding your truth’, ‘being aware of your fears’, ‘finding your way’, ‘not letting anything define you’ and ‘finding who you truly are’ …  great messages preached from someone so young! Moana’s passion and perseverance are contagious, and I defy anyone to tell me they weren’t won over by Moana by the end of the movie!  This was my second viewing of Moana Jr the stage musical in less than twenty-four hours, so, knowing what I already knew, I just sat back and waited for MY favourite movie to unfold again on stage again, was I to be disappointed … NOT A CHANCE! 

Production Team ...  Zoe Jones (Director) was the one approached to guide us through this amazing adventure and what a job she made of it!  If you read Zoe’s programme notes, she like me had grown up watching the movie with young children. The casting and directing of thirty young people, aged between ten and eighteen had posed many challenges, especially when it came to teaching them to sing in a ‘new language’ and in five-part harmony, but the challenge was taken up! Casting was ‘spot on’, characters created relatable, and I think it was obvious from the start that Zoe had a great handle on this production and how to achieve what she wanted!  Zoe got tremendous support from everyone including … Libby Burke (Choreographer) and Hermione Jones (Assistant), Rachel Toner (Musical Director) and Paul Carr (Producer).  Libby and Hermione produced some simple yet effective choreography in which everyone looked comfortable ...  loved the choreo and the vocals for most of the musical numbers, especially the opening number ‘In the Beginning’ but even more so in ‘Away Away’. The musical accompaniment was provided by backing tracks … not always the best accompaniment for me, but for this production I felt it supported the singers ever so well… balance was great and at no point did it overpower these young singers.  Well done folks… the results of your efforts were amazing!

The Cast … its oh so difficult trying to say someone was better than someone else, when you can see the effort and enjoyment these young people were getting from just being on stage together!  As most will know this is where I usually stick the old neck out and select MY ‘Showstealer’ … honestly, I can’t!  The success of this production was down to the fact that everyone on stage gave of their best and there’s very little more you can ask!  So where to start… lets start with our leads ‘Moana’ and ‘Maui’ played by Emiliana Brindle and Sam Entwistle respectively. Both worked together ever so well and there was a great chemistry between them. Emiliana was a perfect fit for this role… great stage presence, wonderful vocals, loved her rendition of ‘Know who you Are’ … looked so natural be proud!  Sam looked totally comfortable with this role … great stage presence, commanded the stage … ‘You’re Welcome’ was sung with meaning and feeling!  PS: you should both be congratulated on your balance on the canoe whilst it was being pushed around the stage … impressive, be very proud!  I’m going straight to ‘Gramma Tala’ played impressively well by Hollyanne McGillivray. Hollyanne’s characterisation and stage presence was off the charts. Loved the walking stick, so simple yet so effective, adding to the character. Loved the way she used her voice to convey the character … vocally wonderful, loved all the songs she was involved in … ‘Where You Are’ and its reprise, ‘We Know the Way’, ‘Song of the Ancestors’… be so very proud Hollyanne, terrific job!  Isobel Ashworth and Daniel Melling played Moana’s mother and father… ‘Sina’ and ‘Chief Tui’ respectively.  Both had good stage presence, and were great fits for these two roles. Alfie Woods played ‘Pau’ the loyal friend of Moana … good character created!  Hei Hei, the dim witted, comically incompetent rooster, another great friend to Moana was played with a lot of confidence and comedy by Moses Toner.  ‘Te Ka’ and ‘To Fiti’ … the ‘goddesses’ of the mother island were played by Jacob Little and Fin Morgan respectively.  I’ve purposely left this ‘trio’ to the end … ‘The Chief Ancestors’ played with great aplomb by Beth Otterburn, Molly Yarker and Kate Blissett … all three narrated the opening of the show ever so well… narration requires great diction which all three had … I loved their rendition of ‘In the Beginning’ and ‘We Know the Way’ with Gramma, I also liked ‘Song of The Ancestors’ and ‘Wayfinder Battle’ with the ensemble, and the support singing throughout the show was outstanding, be ever so proud you three!  The Ensemble (Villagers) included Ella Mae Norris, Harry Taylor, Freya Barker, Annabella Smelt, Everly Timmins, Darcie Leigh Hailwood, Rowan McSweeney, Layla Mae Smith, Fin Morgan (who double as To Fiti) and Ethan Barnes.  We also had the Ocean/Dancers – Theo Jones, Layla Barker, Lyra McVerry, Harriet Costello, Annabel Lynch, Delilah Jones, Rebecca Fulop, Jacob Little (doubled as Te Ka), Poppy Proudfoot and Ayva Kevan…. be proud folks, you supported the principals with great effect throughout!

Stage/Set/Tech … a simple yet effective set was used throughout the production. A decorative proscenium arch with authentic shapes fronted the entire stage A set of painted rocks flats rear centre and a projection screen situated directly behind them which was used throughout the show to project images and video clips depicting locations and settings which enhanced the production ever so much. Located down stage right, slightly off stage we found an authentic looking canoe, set on a truck, with sails painted just like the original movie sail which again enhanced the scenes where Moana and Maui were on their ocean adventures … worked and looked superb!  Overseeing all things stage wise was Ellie Brown (Stage Manager) and her team of Donna Kellett, Cas Jellicoe, Ella Green, Julie Norris and Hermione Jones. Tech Design was by Paul Carr… with Tech Operation by Paul, Ben Holden and Thomas Bramall.

Costumes … were fabulous and again enhanced the production… under the watchful eye of Sandra Dickinson who was assisted by James Grundy, Ro Littlejohns, Fin Morgan and Kyle Whittle.

Props ... were authentic, apt and used well in the care of Ro, Andy and Jacob Littlejohns, Deliah Jones, Fin Morgan, Cas Jellicoe and Hermione Jones.

Chaperones … I can never go to a ‘youth show’ or shows where youth members are involved without identifying / highlighting those ‘selfless people’, who give of their time freely and go out of their way to ensure that our young people have the opportunity to perform in a safe and secure environment.  So its thank you to Ian Brookfield (Safeguarding Officer), and his team of unnamed chaperones.  … be ever so proud folks… without you and your commitment to these young people, this amazing production would never have reached the stage! 

Thank you so much for inviting me to your production, as you know, I always enjoy anything Youth related, to see young people, on stage, having the time of their young lives is everything and if the applause and cheers that were continuous throughout and at the finale was anything to go by, enjoyed by everyone else present.  Well done to all involved and look forward to seeing you all again soon.

Stay safe, keep well…
‘Stronger Together’

Jim Briscoe
NODA NW
District 6 Rep

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.