The Lorax Visits Brookfield  
BUUC children to perform the Dr. Seuss classic tale

Brookfield, MA –In celebration of the Seventh Principle of Unitarian Universalism, children in the Religious Education (R.E.) program of the Brookfield Unitarian Universalist Church (BUUC) will give a Winterim performance of Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax. The performance will take place during the Sunday, February 19, 2006 during the worship service which begins at 10:30 A.M.

“Our Seventh Principle states that we covenant to affirm and promote respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part,” said Laurel Burdon, director of Religious Education at the BUUC. “As Unitarian Universalists we believe that we should care for our planet earth. The Lorax illustrates an ecosystem in which living and non-living parts interact, are linked together, and function as a unit. When one of the parts is altered or damaged, the entire system may fail.”

In The Lorax, Dr. Seuss introduces the "Once-ler," who cuts down the beautiful Truffula tress so that he can use their wonderful silk tufts to knit "thneeds." Thneed sales are so successful that the Once-ler builds a factory and invents the Super Axe Hacker which can cuts down four trees at a time. As the trees swiftly disappear and the denizens are forced to leave this inhabitable wasteland, the Lorax speaks for the trees "for the trees have no tongues.” He repeatedly warns the Once-ler, but his words fall on deaf ears. Since the Lorax, too, can no longer live there, he extricates himself leaving behind a rock on which the word UNLESS is inscribed. "UNLESS someone like you...cares a whole awful lot...nothing is going to get better...It's not."

The R.E Program participants, representing Grades1-8, are involved in each step of the production—including set design and creation, props, and performance. Projects such as this are just one part of the church’s extensive religious education program.

The Brookfield Unitarian Universalist Church is located at 9 Upper River Street, ( Route148),in Brookfield, MA. across from the Brookfield Town Common. For more information on the Brookfield Unitarian Universalist Church religious education program contact Laurel Burdon or Rev. Sara Ascher at 508-867-5145. Visit the BUUC web site at www.buuc.org.