Coopersville High School - Zenith Yearbook (Coopersville, MI)

Page 29 text:

“THE GUEST ROOM” “The Guest Room,” a three-act comedy by Arthur Wilmurt, chosen by the Senior class as their annual dramatic production, was presented April 19th and 20th to capacity houses. The plot is centered around an old spinster aunt who trys her hand at running everyone’s life to suit herself. She attaches herself to her devoted niece. “Aunt Lottie Powers” (Edna Jean Scott), the exasperating old lady, finds after the death of her sister that she has absolutely no home of her own and sets out to find a place to live in and manage as if it were her own. In an effort to secure a place to “hang her nightdress and her toothbrush” she finds that Mrs Mai tin (Donna Batson) is living all alone in a big house. Aunt Lottie elects herself as a committee of one to act as a housekeeper, gardener, and constant companion to “darling” Mrs Martin until fur- ther arrangements can be made (which aunt Lottie will certainly nip in the bud as soon as she finds out about them) All this is going on in spite of the protests of Mr. and Mrs Paul Lessing, (Melvin Van Farowe, Laura Carson), the daughter and son-in-law of Mrs. Martin. Meanwhile Janet Fairley (Phyllis Nichols), the pliable niece, and her fiance Willard (Bill) Simms (Daniel Wenger) have become married. They are very comfortable in a cute modern apart- ment In the second act the plot thickens. Mr. and Mrs. Lessing return from a trip to find Mrs Martin at her wits end. Aunt Lottie has the whole household in a state of revolt The servants, the butler (Robert Adema) and Myrtle (Helen Short) are up in arms. The Lessings ask Aunt Lottie to leave but she finds numerous excuses to prolong her stay. When Mr. Lessing mentions a proposed trip to South America, for someone in his office, where Willard Simms is now working, Aunt Lottie sees her chance. Aunt Lottie thereupon so skillfully manipulates the affairs of Janet that she succeeds in sending Willard to South America The third act is five months later. Mr. and Mrs. Lessing and Bill come to see Janet Janet still feels resentment in her heart to think that her husband could not be a little more broad- minded. Aunt Lottie rushes in and tries her hand at giving orders. During the process she lets slip the fact that she has known for a whole week that Willard was in town but she neglected telling Janet. This perturbs Janet and she tells her Aunt to leave if she does not appreciate Bill. Aunt Lottie realizes it is too late to regain her former position in Janet’s heart. Janet finally gives up as useless, any reconciliation between her husband and Aunt Lottie Bill has a brainstorm He cooks up a story about a Mrs. Browning who must be just terribly lonely, and Aunt Lot- tie leaves with her heart and mind overflowing with ideas for running her newly acquired

Page 28 text:

First Row: I). Batson. E. Scott. P. Nichols. M. Van Farowe. L. Carson. Second Row: J. Higley, H. Short. R. Adema. R. Creager, B. Veeneman. Mrs. Altenburg. SENIOR PLAY THE CAST (As they appear) Willard Simms......... .....................Dan Wenger Mrs. Martin.............................. Drnna Batson Janet Fairley.......................... Phyllis Nichols Charlotte (Aunt Lottie Powers) Edna Jean Scott Mrs. Lessing.............................. Laura Carson Mr. Lessing Melvin Van Farowe Myrtle Helen Short Butler Robert Adema Stage Manager Ralph Venema Property Managers Bernice Veeneman Ruth Creager, Frances Schmidt Mrs. A1 ten burg Director

Page 30 text:

First Row: J. Swanlund. T. Lillie. M. Rawn, L. Taylor, J. Meerman, V. Albrecht. B. Parker. Second Row: E. Meyer, D. Kelly. C. Carson. R. Timracr, A. Sehcrencel. G. Wolbrink. J. Ruth- ven. Mrs. Altenburg. JUNIOR PLAY PLAY CAST Mrs. Margaret Hatter Joe Hatter G g —......-...... Bunnv . Diana Angelica, the maid.. Grandma Hatter Mugsie Mullin Henry Harrison Bessie Harrison Nancy Lois Taylor Jim Meerman . .Vivian Albrecht ... Tom Lillie .Mary Jane Rawn ...Barbara Parker .Gladys Wolbrink Arnold Scherencel Dick Timmer ..Cathryn Carson .Jackie Swanlund