Larks

The Larks: This is a children's ensemble in 1829. Orphans of four (Cole, Clementine, Kingsley, Perrin) perform the songs of the Harkers (Bell Ringer, Storyteller, Choirboy, Lighted). They are not related to each other, but they act like they are. Cole: A boy, 13 years old. Clothes:, and wears a mask of a hare or rabbit with red cheeks and blue shadows under the eyes. Cole represents Harker the Storyteller, who represents the past. Cole is also the lead singer in the theater ensemble, Cole is described as the most passive but imaginative Lark, who comes up with most of his own ideas. And little is said about his past: one of the songs said that his village was burned down and everyone died. Clementine: a girl also 13 years old. Clothes: wears a goat mask, her clothes are made in delicate tones, and in some sense a refined version. Clementine personifies the "Bell Ringer" and her past is known: that her parents were very rich (in the past she was called Barannesa), but kept her as if in a "golden cage" because of which she could not stand it and ran away. Kingsley: the youngest, a boy of 11. Wears a mask of tree bark, personifies the "Burnt One" (and his origin is unknown) Perrin: a 14 year old girl, wears a moose mask, personifies "The Chant or the Chanter" (and the origin is unknown)

Cole is quiet and likes to cover his face with his hands. If he is depressed and needs to cry, he will cover his face with both hands. If the playwright, Cooper, or any adult he feels comfortable with is there, Cole will head straight to them and bury his face in their shirt. Clem would be both the ugliest and the cutest crybaby. She would scream the loudest, as you would expect from a baby, and they would sniffle all the time. Coop would pick them up, and their scarf would be covered in snot and tears. Peregrine is quiet, like Cole, but he doesn't hide his face. He expresses that he's sad. He doesn't want people to see him cry, but he doesn't hide it. "It gives him confidence that, 'Yeah, I'm sad.'" He tries to be mature about it. Emphasis on trying. Kingsley hardly cries. He's very young, so he hasn't reached the stage where he can understand what sadness is and why it's upsetting. He just frowns. He just acts like a child and has fun.

Kingsley (11 years old): short, with a childlike build, he has brown wavy/curly hair, and many freckles on his face. He wears a tree bark mask. Clementine (13 years old): not tall, has blonde curly hair.. Soft blue eyes, wears a goat mask, has a crush on Cole Cole (13): tall, shoulder-length, wheat-colored hair, gray eyes, wears a bunny mask, has a crush on Clementine Perrin (14): tall, oldest, chestnut hair, brown eyes

Cole: communication style - modest/quiet/shy / Clementine: communication style /kind/carefree. Kingsley: communication style: Cheerful/hyperactive/quick. Perrin: communication style: serious/gloomy/attentive

Cole is very nervous around everyone. Kingsley is the complete opposite, so when he was younger, he was the one who led Cole on and encouraged them to open up more and have fun ("It's Okay"). "You remember when kids, really little kids, would trip and cry? There would always be that one little kid who would scoop them up and invite them over to play, not even caring that they tripped, and then the kid who tripped would just forget about it and be like, 'Okay, I'm focusing on playing right now, there's no time to cry.'" That was the dynamic between Cole and Kingsley as kids, ever since they met when they were little. When they met Peregrine, he was very withdrawn. Like with Cole, Kingsley was the one who encouraged them to have more fun, worry later, and act like kids. ("It's just a game.") Cole understood and encouraged Peregrine to talk about his feelings, as much as a child could understand emotions. They were both essential to Peregrine's growth. When Clement came into the lives of the other people, they knew nothing but how to love. The children taught Clem more about the world, like how to cross the street. On one occasion, the four of them held hands to cross the street, which Clem found amazing. Then, since they had all practiced together once, they tried again and it was Clem's turn to do it without holding hands, which surprised them. "I thought we could all hold hands, why don't we hold hands together?" The children had to explain that they had taught Clem how to cross the street without fear, Clem was upset because "I want to hold hands together!" so they did it again. The children taught Clem about life and how to hold his own, and in return they teach their friends to love, to be nice, to be lovable, and to show affection. This is what connects all four and makes them inseparable: they learn from each other.

Kingsley and Cole practically grew up together, and then Peregrine/Perrine came along and they became a trio for a while. Cole and Kingsley tried to soften up and befriend Perrine. It worked, they became Perrine's first friends. Clem was the last to arrive.

Clem can say too much. She can say anything and they can get away with it. "She'll say something, and Cooper will just say, 'Oh!.. I don't think you can say that.' 'I can't?' 'No... it's not very nice of you to say that, Clemmy...' 'Oh!.. okay!'

There are times when Cole could have witnessed it, but since he was a child he doesn't know how to handle it. They know it's wrong/weird, so they tell an adult. Most likely the playwright. The playwright thanked them and talked to Clem, but Clem didn't listen.

Kingsley has the best hygiene products. It smells like spoiled rich kids, like baby powder, it smells the best. It smells the best and is the healthiest—mentally and physically After him: Perrin / Perregrin, Clementine, Cole