Unfortunately for me, the Colt Cadets were one of the few drum corps I was unable to see live this year. Our paths just did not cross as we traveled through our respective journeys through the woods of the season. Fortunately, I was able to catch their performance during DCI week during World Class Prelims on Thursday, so I was at least able to enjoy their performance of The Woods.
Utilizing music from sources such as Into the Woods and Peter and the Wolf, The Woods follows one of our favorite fairy tale heroines, Little Red Riding Hood, as she travels into the woods to grandmother’s house. The woods mark a clear path on the field for Red to follow, leading her to a fenced in yard and a big red door. Of course, we all know how the story goes, and, after knocking and heading in, we hear Red exclaim “What BIG eyes you have!”. The show designers had some clever fun at this point with the strains of “I Only Have Eyes For You” coming from the corps while two guard members pose with red wolf eyes on their flags.
Red’s observations continue as the brass and percussion perform the aptly named “What Big Teeth You Have”, raising the tension as Red eventually discovers that grandma was lunch and she’s the next course. Fortunately, the story comes to its classic conclusion with Red escaping, defeating the wolf, saving grandma, and learning that nice is different than good.
Like Les Stentors, the Colt Cadets have an excellent history of programming their shows at just the right level for their membership. Not too hard, yet still challenging. With the Colt Cadets, they have the added benefit and responsibility of serving as the feeder organization for the Colts, one of the few drum corps of this type still active in the activity. This makes what the Colt Cadets achieve even more important and impressive, as these kids are getting valuable training for their drum corps future.
