Beaverton High School - Beaver Yearbook (Beaverton, OR)

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. . do R 5 . fi 'Q 15555 Kathy Lootens, Randall Davidson, Patsy Vranizan, and Melissa Bryan in 'KThey're Playing Our Song. Randall played a well known musician in the play. Mike Androsky dances in the fall show. Mike was one of the three voices of Ver- non Gersch. Sonia QJanel Jaroszb and Vernon KRandall Davidsonl discuss their love affair over a drink. Their relationship had some major ups and downs throughout the play. They're Playing Our Song 27

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They're Playing Our Song Successful fall The fall musical They're Play- ing Oar Song, was a very enter- taining production about a lyricist and musician who fall in love, break up, and finally end up to- gether. lt was set in the late 70's and was extremely funny. The plot of They're Playing Our Song was simple and lighth- earted, but it was given more depth and flavor by the creative perfor- mances of the cast and by the di- recting and choreography of James Erickson. Wonderful choreography laced with singing and dancing, and a darling Jitterbug number choreographed by cast members David Wickwire and Melissa Bryan made the show exciting to watch. play David Wickwire added, Choreo- graphing the J itterbug number was a great experience? They're Playing Our Song was a story about a lyricist named So- nia fJanel Jaroszl and a musician named Vernon QRandall Davidsonj who were to write songs together, but end up falling in love. Both characters had three Voices in- side of them that told them their inner feelings. Sonia's voices were played by Patsy Vranizan, Kathy Lootens, and Melissa Bryan. Vernon's voices were played by Mike Androsky, David Wickwire, and Mike Lee. Each time Vernon or Sonia had a thought, their three voices appeared. When the voices appeared they would be dressed the same and tell Sonia and Vernon what they were feeling. This was creatively done. The story continued as the musi- cian and the lyrisist fell in love, out of love, and finally in love. The play took place in the studio theatre with a spectacular stage design. They're Playing Oar Song ended happily, with a dance finale and all eight characters on stage. The play was a success due to the efforts of the cast members in qual- ity routines. Leading lady Janel Jarosz commented, They're Play- ing Our Song was an exciting play with a fun castf' 26 Theylre Playing Our Song

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Sinister play full of suspense Night Must Fall was the fall play. This drama, directed by Cecil Mat- son, centered around the frightening character of a psychotic killer. With a great deal of emphasis on mood and character, I believe the eight actors cast in the play were able to bring to this play all the suspense and thrill it provided, commented Cecil Matson. The mood was intense enough to make the audience gasp in fear in one particular scene. The set- ting itself was gloomy in that it was an old house isolated on the English countryside, but this was only a part of the effect of the production. The major suspense arose from the psy- chotic manner of the bell-hop Dan tMarc Moseleyl and the mixed reac- tions of suspicion and trust toward him portrayed by the other actors. The audience felt the suspense once Dan entered the lives of the other characters. Maureen Dawson played the cantankerous, sympathy-seeking Mrs. Bramson, who clung to seeming- ly sweet Dan. The more perceptive Olivia Grayne CAnnelise Wamsleyb challenged Dan's sincerity, which cre- ated a nervous atmosphere due to the murders that had been occuring near- by. The suspicion on stage was shared by Nurse Libby tDebbie Leverb, Mrs. Terence fHelaina Michaelsl, Dora Parkoe fKim Stoloffj, and Hubert Laurie fDon Moorej. The action in- tensified as more grisly murders were reported while Dan revealed more of his true psychotic nature to Olivia. On describing her experience with this production, Annelise replied, I really enjoyed the challenge of working on a drama, it was also interesting to work with a different director and such a talented cast? The play was highlighted by fright- ening scenes and the surfacing of un- expected qualities in some characters. The tension became strong when Oli- via, Hubert, Nurse Libby, Mrs. Ter- ence, and Dora Parkoe examined the contents of Dan's suitcase while he was gone, but were caught by Dan in 28 Night Must Fall the act before they could open his hat box, which was implied to have held the head of one of his victims. It was a change to work on a high school play as compared with junior high. The practice hours for this play were in- tense,', said Kim Stoloff of her partici- pation in this drama. The final scene of the play resulted in Mrs. Bramsonls realization of Dan's personality when he suffocated her, as well as Inspector Belsize's CWade Stokesl apprehen- sion of Dan. It was a very different kind of experience to present a mur- der mystery on stage and to have so- phisticated roles involved, Wade Stokes commented. The engagement of Olivia and Hubert was finally prov- en insignificant when Olivia appeared to sympathize deeply with Dan. Don Moore replied, t'It was a true exper- ience in educational theater, when summing up his work on the play. Night Must Fall was an exciting production that actively involved the audience emotionally. The actors en- joyed playing their roles and set the mood. Helaina Michaels reflected, I thought that it was a real challenge to work with such a serious play. I loved doing it. I consider this play to be one of the best, commented Cecil Matson, and the actors did their best job in performing it.