School Play

School Play follows five suburban New York fifth-graders during auditions, rehearsals, and an eventual performance of a staged version of The Wizard of Oz. The kids run the gamut of behavioral types: an admitted class clown; an outcast who struggles to make friends; a popular, competitive girl; a boy who stutters but loves to be the center of attention; and the savvy youngest child in a family of stage performers. The director and school principal talk about the importance of the annual play, and parents are seen in roles extending beyond helping the children to learn lines—talking about their own work with their offspring, while one father draws a parallel for his son between working on Oz and doing anything well in life. Filmmakers Rick Velleu and Eddie Rosenstein fall short in a few areas: the film jumps from one participant's discouragement to elation without showing any connection; the overuse of atmospheric shots and folk music slow the momentum; and, disappointingly, the students' journey ends with excerpts of the performance shown in only a brief montage, as the soundtrack gives way almost entirely to Cat Stevens. But School Play is still an effective reminder of the power of childhood experiences. DVD extras include a viewing guide with related video clips. Recommended, overall. Aud: I, C, P. (M. Puffer-Rothenberg)