Magic on a small stage: Surrey school performs Tangled
Published 11:11 am Monday, May 11, 2026
Semiahmoo Secondary school in South Surrey transformed their small drama room into a lively performance space with their recent production of Tangled.
This year’s musical production ran from May 5-7 and was almost completely run by Semiahmoo’s drama club students.
The show’s opening night drew a strong turnout of audience members, bringing together students, teachers, alumni, parents and other family members into the fictional kingdom of Corona.
The performance was done without headsets or microphones and relied heavily on the energy, vocal performances, creativity and commitment of the cast and crew.
Portraying the leading character, Rapunzel, was Grade 9 student Cailin Yewchuk, who performed while battling illness and having largely lost her voice before opening night. Despite this challenge, she still delivered a heartfelt performance that stayed authentic to her character from beginning to end.
All singing performances stuck close to the original material of the Disney musical with a few artful flares, where singers added their own vocal style to the music numbers.
The standout performance of the showcase came from Grade 10 student Maria Zhang’s portrayal of narcissistic villain, Mother Gothel. Zhang balanced humour, manipulation and theatrical villainy with confidence as her commanding presence and powerful vocals shone on stage.
Some of the strongest moments throughout the production were when Yewchuk and Zhang shared centrestage. Both actresses effortlessly fed naturally off one another during emotional and comedic scenes alike.
Comedy in general was a common theme, and jokes, jabs, and sarcastic quips all landed consistently throughout the show.
Grade 12 student Pedro Sales led a lot of the comedy elements with his portrayal of Flynn Ryder, leaving the audience with small fits of giggles. Foxy Keffer (a dog) also brought on the laughter, dressing up in a chameleon outfit to play the fan favourite Pascal.
While some scene transitions during opening night moved on the slower side, the production frequently impressed through inventive staging choices. One scene to memorably note came during a cave scene, where blue fabric paired with partially closed curtains effectively created the illusion of rising water within the confined performance space.
Hand-crafted and drawn sets also helped establish each scene throughout the performance, adding charm, personality and film familiarity to the production. Flynn Ryder’s enemy-turned-friend, Maximus, was also designed by the students with an unusual but creative papier-mâché horse head that was operated by another actor on stage.
Dancing sequences flowed smoothly and brought lively energy to productions, helping maintain momentum throughout the performance.
One of the evening’s most memorable moments came during the lantern scene following intermission.
Before the performance resumed, stagehands distributed lyric sheets for I See the Light alongside battery-operated tealights, encouraging audience members to participate in the next scene.
When the show resumed and the musical number began, the crowd eagerly joined in, illuminating the audience and the room alongside the performers in a heartfelt singalong moment that elevated the emotional impact of that scene.
The final production showcased the creativity and hard work of the student cast and crew in adapting a large-scale musical into an intimate but memorable theatrical experience.
Read No frying pans needed: South Surrey school stages Tangled for more information leading up to the 2026 Semiahmoo Secondary musical showcase.