Curses are a constant threat for many fairy tale princesses, and Princess Amy would not be spared from this fate. But during Friends Academy’s fall musical, audiences learned that Amy’s particular plight – being hopelessly plain – couldn’t hold her back from finding happiness.

About 20 fifth and sixth graders have spent the past two months preparing for “The Ordinary Princess,” a play that had been adapted from a short story by M.M. Kaye. English teacher Marlaina Trepanier’s script featured plenty of quirky humor and offbeat life lessons. It was Trepanier’s second year preparing a script for the drama program.

“What that allows us to do is customize,” said assistant director Mary Pierce. “Most of what’s out there either doesn’t have enough parts or runs too long.”

The costume design was also unique to this production. While the school’s attic is a veritable treasure trove of coats, cloaks and everything in between, Brenna Ferrick assembled eye-catching adornments made from paper, cardboard, fabric and plenty of duct tape. Ferrick, a parent of a Friends student, volunteered her time to the project.

The vibrant, two-dimensional outfits were modeled with comic book art in mind.

“We do everything here on as little budget as possible, so we reuse a lot. [The costumes] have allowed everything to be fresh and different. It’s fun,” said Pierce.

Early in the show, a mischievous sea creature curses Princess Amy with being forever ordinary. Various narrators, fitted with reflective, silver escutcheons, explain that not even layers of glitter, hair extensions or a life coach could make her interesting.

As the heroine branches out on her own, she holds true to her lot in life and manages to do what it is that fairy tale princesses do best: befriend animals, sing solos in the forest and overcome obstacles. And she accomplishes all those tasks while being ordinary.

Before the Tuesday night performance, as Pierce was busy applying stage make up to the cast in the art room, the students expressed their love for the play.

Lily Cogliano, 10, who had several roles in the show, expressed her approval directly.

“I like make up. I like dresses. I like princesses,” she said.

Massimo Vliet, 10, who starred as King Peregrine of Ambergeldar, had some initial reservations when auditioning for the play.

“I wasn’t that into it at the beginning, but it’s pretty fun,” said Vliet. “My mom wanted me to do it, so I said ‘What the heck? I’ll try it.’”

Jim Bean has been directing plays at Friends Academy for the past 24 years and was pleased with how the show came together. He said that fifth and sixth graders tend to have an easy time performing once they have had some coaching.

“With kids this age, their imaginations are fabulous. You just have to funnel it in the right direction,” said Bean.

Friends Academy’s seventh and eighth graders will hold their own stage production later in the school year.