2000-2001:
Fall, 2000: The Crucible by Arthur Miller
Because of reading this great script in English classes, Mrs. Brant chose this more serious offering for the fall play. Written in the early 1950s, Arthur Miller’s The Crucible takes place in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. It recounts the events surrounding the Salem Witch Trials. This was a time when paranoia, hysteria, and deceit gripped the Puritan towns of New England. It shows how the paranoia grows throughout the town, and how John Proctor (Peter Sauerwein) tries to find redemption for his previous affair with Abigail Williams (Tiffany Gorrebeeck) by putting things right, something he eventually gives his life for. There were many great opportunities for strong acting throughout this show. One of these was the Bird Scene in the courtroom, where Abigail "sees" Mary Williams' (Sarah Dahlin) "spirit" in the form of a yellow bird that is going to attack them to throw the court off of the truth. We practiced one small section of that over 15 times to get it right during one rehearsal! During the show, another memorable time was when one of the cyc lights lit its blue color gel on fire during the second half of the show! Smoke filtered up behind the window (we had a Puritan marshmallow roast outside the house?) and Mrs. Brant dove back there to unplug it with some of the techies. No permanent damage! (Licensed by
Spring, 2001: The Pirates of Penzance by Gilbert and Sullivan
Our second big musical offering was also a favorite of Mrs. Brant, and featured a singing style we had not yet attempted. This show is an operetta, or light opera, by the famous English writing team of Gilbert and Sullivan. Featuring comedy and over the top characters, it also includes more challenging singing in the vein of opera and of course, the team's famous ingenious lyrics. It was definitely a challenge, and definitely fun! Its a hilarious farce of sentimental pirates, bumbling policemen, dim-witted young lovers, dewy-eyed daughters and an eccentric Major-General, all morally bound to the often-ridiculous dictates of honor and duty. One memorable moment was during the performance after a scene with the Pirate King (Matt Mayo), Ruth (Geneva Scaife) and Frederic (Andy Bale). The bench that the Pirate King hops up on in the dramatic ending to "A Paradox" flipped upside down as Matt leaped off to go off stage after the song. Andy remained on stage, but didn't have time to fix it in character before Mabel (Heather Porter) entered to find out why he was so sad (he just found out he had to go back to the pirates). She was supposed to sit on the bench (now upside down) so he could break the news to her gently. Instead of just playing it standing, Andy, IN TIME WITH THE MUSIC, took his toe, deftly flicked the bench up, and landed it perfectly upright right at the end of the intro to their song, and Heather got her seat. The chances of nailing that so perfectly again are pretty nil! (no royalties for amateur groups)
2001-2002:
Fall, 2001: Alice in Wonderland by Charlotte Chorpenning
Our second foray into Wonderland fit the actors we had at this time so well, and was such a hit with children, we had to do it again! (Dramatic Publishing)
Spring, 2002: Flapper by Tim Kelly and Bill Francouer
"The Roaring Twenties was such a colorful decade that the unbeatable team of playwright Tim Kelly and musician Bill Francoeur couldn’t resist it! Come celebrate the era with them and meet Polly Pepper, a young flapper who really knows how to live in the time of Stutz Bearcat automobiles, Ziegfield girls, raccoon coats, ukuleles, beauty contests, goldfish swallowers and gangsters. Polly’s about to turn 18 and will then inherit a fabulous diamond necklace called the ’Ice Garden.’ She’s planning a madcap birthday party and inviting all her pals. However, with a friend like Susan Stuyvesant-Fish, she doesn’t need any enemies! Polly’s new boyfriend, Buck Wayne, wouldn’t miss the birthday bash for anything, even if he has to land his private plane on the lawn of the polo grounds. But there’s trouble ahead! Mobsters are planning to grab the necklace. But thanks to Polly, they’re defeated in uproarious fashion. Meet fabulous characters like Mona of the Crazy Cat Club, Monica Woodsquirrel of Radio Station WWWW atop Hotel Times Square, crime fighter Lieutenant Fluke, mobsters trying to steal the necklace, and ’Flagpole Sitter’ Lenny Knickerbocker. Not only does Polly save the necklace, she also saves her aunt from losing money in a confidence scheme and manages to become the star of the Ziegfeld Follies before she even cuts the cake! " (licensed by Pioneer Drama Service http://www.pioneerdrama.com/SearchDetail.asp?pc=FLAPPER)
