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PES students learn safety tips through interactive play

ATCO Gas and ATCO Electric have found a way to educate elementary school students with a fun and interactive play.
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Carmen Monoxide (Mari Chartier) and Rocket Socket (Rebecca Merkley) compete for points during the play.

ATCO Gas and ATCO Electric have found a way to educate elementary school students with a fun and interactive play.

Dubbed the Power Game with the Blue Flame, the main characters are none other than the Blue Flame (Evan Hall), hero and game show host to Carmen Monoxide (Mari Chartier), a villain and byproduct of gas, and Rocket Socket (Rebecca Merkley), another villain who explains the dangers of electricity. The play was held May 10 at Ponoka Elementary School and combined music and theatre to show kids how to be safe around electricity and gas. Blue Flame asked questions of the two villains who answered his questions as they competed against students.

The questions and answers helped kids later in the play when Blue Flame would determine if they were able to understand the presentation. Eventually students defeated the evil villains with their newfound knowledge of gas and electricity.

Hall, who played the main hero, enjoys getting kids involved in the play. “The challenge is figuring out what the kids want and need.”

The actors rehearsed throughout April and Hall enjoys being able to bring the dialogue to a live audience and feed off of the interaction with students.

Carmen Monoxide villain, Chartier, was pleased with students’ involvement. “They get so into it…It’s awesome when the kids have questions about the safety issues.”

The play was introduced in 2007 and the production has completed seven four-week tours around the province with two performances per day. The play is offered free to the schools.

“Safety of the public, our customers and our employees is a core value at ATCO and ATCO Energy Theatre is a tangible part of that commitment,” said Bill Stephens, president of ATCO Gas in a press release. “The program reinforces information presented in safety education programs already offered to schools by both ATCO Gas and ATCO Electric, as well as science information related to the Alberta school curriculum.”

Wetaskiwin and Ponoka supervisor Mike Primus feels students will be able to take the message from the play to their parents. “By educating the children, they bring that home.”

The play also helps reinforce some the importance of being aware of the possible dangers of electricity and gas.