Addiction Project – The Promise (based on “The Brown Bottle” by Penny Jones)

We, the 3e presented the play “THE PROMISE” on the 9th of April. In this story there is a young caterpillar called Charlie, who lives in the Valley of Promises. As you know, there is something very special about caterpillars. From the time they are born, they are aware that something beautiful beyond imagination will one day occur. It is called THE PROMISE.

Charlie was a believer. For as long as he could remember, he had loved The Promise. Its mystery filled his days and nights with dreams of anticipation. In this way, Charlie was special, for his love of the promise by far exceeded that of any normal caterpillar. He grew more and more impatient in his intense desire to receive its gift.
One day while the caterpillars were exploring the valley, the came across a shiny, brown object which attracted their attention. Most of them were a bit scared except for Charlie who crawled up very close. He traveled its surface from end to end and top to bottom. When Charlie entered, he felt in a way he never felt before in his entire live.
At first, Charlie spent most of his time leading the normal life of a caterpillar with only occasional trips into the brown bottle. But as the days passed, his trips became frequent.
By the end of the summer the brown bottle had become Charlie’s home. With the coming fall, the caterpillars knew that they must change with the seasons and prepare for th winter to come. On the final day of preparation, Charlie’s friends went a last time to the bottle, but Charlie didn’t come with them. But soon enough Charlie discovered the brown bottle’s true face when he tried to reach the outside world. Winter passed slowly and Charlie lived in a haty world within his glass confines. During his long stay, he had not eaten or taken care of himself. He began to grow frail and thin. The bottle’s walls were becoming cold and uncaring. There was nothing special about Charlie anymore. His good feelings about himself had gradually been replaced with guilt and hatred. He had become nothing more than a sad, frightened little caterpillar, trapped in a brown bottle.
Spring came and thousands of butterflies tested their wings for the first time in a never ending flight of freedom.
…THE PROMISE HAD BEEN FULFILLED…

Selina Pfisterer, 3e

The public performance was on Wednesday 9th April and those who attended can hardly have failed to be impressed. From the musical introduction to the acting, the stage decoration and the plenary session afterwards, everything was not only highly professional, but also very interesting. It was truly moving to see just how deeply the pupils had been touched by the subject and during the Q&A session they showed a wisdom beyond their years.

Many thanks are due to the fantastic help of Michaela Legl and Barbara Pacholik, who invested a huge amount of time and energy in this fantastic project. It would not have been possible without you.

Many thanks also to Andrea Wild for supporting the pupils musically and playing during the interludes.

Special thanks to Barbara Pacholik for handling the photography.