Melrose High School - Log Yearbook (Melrose, MA)

Page 30 text:

Drama Exciting people are drawn to the theater by exciting hap- penings! Our Drama Club is no exception to the rest of the theater world, and a peep at the Call Board or a glance into the Olde English Office will prove this to the uninitiated. On the green board glare purple letters (considered to be much more subtle” than neon). Stern warnings in four-inch high letters admonish members to pay their dues. The rest of the green is hidden under advertisements for theaters such as the Loeb and the Charles. Inside the green room,” Margo Hensel is persuading friends to usher at the Charles or is notifying them of a Pegasus meeting. At Mrs. Hamlin’s desk, Geoff Stewart is collecting money or writing friendly threats on yellow see me” slips to all those members who have not returned tickets, and Barbara Zajac and her hard-working committee members are planning strategic maneuvers to sell tons of candy. During the exciting production weeks, the auditorium be- comes the Drama Club’s headquarters, this year featuring Oliver Goldsmith’s She Stoops to Conquer. From three to five, and even much later, Mrs. Hamlin and her cast can be found laboring on lines, blocking characterizations, and solv- ing such little problems as the decision to fill the teapot with TAB. First Row: Mrs. Hamlin, P. Bacall, W. Bailey, G. Stewart, A. Griesbach, R. Orsillo, M. Bernard, A. Hayden, J. Boudreau, E. Famolare. Second Row: N. Shay, K. Lacey, N. Link, M. Soule, W. Cashman, S. Bowditch, J. Gregory, M. D ' Angelo, J. Clark, L. Brewer. Third Row: S. Ridlon, S. Mastromarino, M. Caiazza, B. Haas, M. Craft, S. Perry, J. Dunbar, E. Taylor, K. Bertulli, L. Graf. Fourth Row: L. Miller, A. Ridley, L. Cuneo, N. Harrington, K. Schwede, N. Stiles, C. Dalis, N. Dolt, K. Radnay. Fifth Row: W. Edmonds, M. Cassis, D. Wenner, M. Charlton, B. Zajac, J. DeAngelis, N. Wood, J. DePetris, P. Ford, R. DeStefano.

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Debate Club Front Row, Left to Right: Mr. Frank, L. Anthony, M. Holden, S. Swindlehurst, L. Mead, R. Fitzgerald, G. Hayes, I. Burnim, P. Stone, C. Sulis, S. Butler, R. Winde. Second Row: W. Miller, G. Russell, V. Ferraro, A. Hamelin, L. Hilton, J. Tuma, J. Braden, W. Savage, G. Reitsma, R. Mandrachia. Melrose High School boasts one of the finest and most active debating teams in New England. Coached in the Daniel Webster tradition” by coaches Freeman T. Frank and Peter T. Brown, the club traveled to Dartmouth, Pittsburgh, U. N. H., Boston College, and U. Mass. We were especially proud of varsity debaters, Vincent Ferraro and Gail Russell, who placed first in the U. Mass. New England Tournament. At the B. C. National Tournament our varsity team beat University Beckinridge, Holy Cross, and last year’s champions, St. Brendan ' s. Soon the trophy cabinet will have to be enlarged to hold the many cups and placques won by our young Daniel Websters!

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First Row: A. Puffer, K. Bush, C. Scott, M. Karas, G. Stewart, A. Griesbach, R. Orsillo, M. Bernard, A. Bernard, B. Hinkley, C. Rosseland, D. Ryan. Second Row: Mrs. Hamlin, L. Harron, L. Tosi, M. Contreas, P. Ball, R. Beecher, P. Mandrachia, L. Hendrickson, H. Hayes, M. Gigi, A. Pustell, J. Gandolfi, H. George. Third Row: M. Dolt, J. Walsh, K. Fletcher, L. Perry, I. Mrose, J. Hughes, L. DeCeller, B. Granfield, A. Bertulli, E. Hayden, P. Denley, J. Goff. Fourth Row: J. Snyder, M. Ford, M. Zorbas, E. Sheehan, J. Stiles, E. Doran, S. Case. Club The theater calls for dedication, and so does the M.H.S. Drama Club. When a blizzard struck during the week of production, the cast rehearsed from noon until five, while the rest of the school was safely and warmly at home. Even on the no-school” day which followed, Mrs. Hamlin and the members made their way to rehearsal. The sacrifice was worthwhile, for on that day, props suddenly came to life: Wayne Bailey (alias Tony Lumpkin, John Proctor) wielded his riding crop with unerring precision, off-stage and on. Marlow’s boots were difficult to get on in just the right places, and the ladies, the Misses Griesbach, Bernard and Gandolfi, learned to speak the language of the lace fan.” With this production, Mrs. Hamlin scored a triumph of en- thusiastic audience response equal to that of The Crucible.” In May, the Drama Club concluded its year with two activities: a trip to Stratford, Conn., which enabled some of the club members to see Shakespearean plays well-performed; and the installation of next year’s officers at the final gala banquet by this year’s officers: Richard Orsillo, President; : Mary Bernard, V. President; Audrey Griesbach, Secretary; and Geoffrey Stewart, Treasurer.