Columbus East High School - Altis Yearbook (Columbus, IN)

Page 27 text:

The ‘ereme de Ia ereme'. Miss Bro- die's favorite pupils. Seniors Molly Sullivan and LccAnna Morris and Amy Holmes, sophomore, join ju- nior Jim Frakes, as he paints a por- trait. John Rhoude- Fattening up the music teacher. Matt Gillespie, senior, was the goal of Alison Peek, junior. Seniors Mol- ly Sullivan and LecAnna Morris. Amy Holmes, sophomore, and Cori Davis, junior, join their teachers for a picnic. Caught in the act of imitating her school teacher. Miss Brodic. Molly Sullivan, senior, falls to the ground as the Head School mistress, l.aura Semba. senior, enters. I ccAnna Morris, senior. Amy Holmes, sopho- more. and Cori Davis, junior, try to help their friend out of the situation. An older Sandy. Kathleen Kyle, senior, patiently answers the ques- tions of Stephen Conway, sopho- more, an American reporter. Con- way and Kyle pose as narrators for the play. John Rhiude-. Jean Brodie' Studeni Life 23

Page 26 text:

THE MOVES ‘Prime of Jean Brodie’ flows naturally for cast Slowly and painfully nearing the door, she suddenly unleashed a terrible cry filling the room with uncontrollable anger and remorse, ASSAS-AIIIIINNN! With her last line successfully executed. Junior Alison Peck, who portrayed Miss Jean Brodie, left the stage. The final confrontation between Brodie and her student Sandy, played by Sophomore Amy Holmes, displayed the polished perfection of rehearsed lines. However, both Peck and Holmes instantly broke into tears offstage. The crying was not part of the script; their tears were for real. Totally absorbed in the role of their characters in the production, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie , the two were emotionally exhausted as were the rest of the cast. Set in the 1930’s, the powerful drama depicted the great influence a teacher of a private girls' school in her prime wielded over her most select students. After being subject to her absolute command for numerous years, the girls eventually realized Brodie's influence on them, and Sandy finally betrayed her, an action she should have taken much earlier. The play which opened in late October, contained all the essential elements of drama- envy, desire, and revenge, which constituted a captivating plot but the factor which made the production stand out from others remained the cast's attachment and enthusiasm with their roles. Surprisingly enough, we had no problems working together, said Stephen Conway, sophomore, who played the part of Mr. Perry. I think that without the sense of closeness, the play would not have been as great a success. The leading female characters all went shopping to personally select their costumes. We saw our characters in the clothes, and we would say, 'She would wear this!’ We went shopping from our character’s standpoint, Holmes explained. The cast also learned their lines and assumed their roles so easily that no one dreaded rehearsals. Working with Amy made it a challenging experience because both of us had enough experience to get beyond mechanics like blocking, gesturing, and learning lines. We really worked on trying to feel what the characters were feeling, and I think we succeeded, Peck said. Director Ray LeBlanc also noticed the extraordinary smoothness the production possessed. One of the goals of every production is to create an ensemble company...the ability to work together instinctively...to know what the other actor will do without direction or discussion. This cast was magnificent in its ability to achieve this goal. Assuming the identity of their roles so closely and putting their energy into the hard work of rehearsing, the cast flourished in their own prime. They successfully transformed the characters from the pages of a script into living, breathing and amazingly believable people onstage. by Mary Ilou Meeting in the art museum. Juniors Jim Frakcs and Alison Peck discuss events involved in their relationship. Mati Hichcn Far from being a conventional teacher. Alison Peck, junior, tells her students about her many love affairs. 22 Student Life Jean Brodie

Page 28 text:

THE MOfES Children’s eyes sparkle for ‘Aesops Falables’ Eager eyes lifted up as the 'big kids' began to perform. Full of color and action, Aesops Falables , a children’s musical, proved to be just the thing for entertaining elementary school students. A spinoff on old Aesop stories, the musical included several well known fable characters with slightly different twists. The Tortoise and the Hare incorporated tricycles and rollerskates into their race while the big, bad wolf spent his time picketing to 'stop unfair treatment to the lonely wolf. The cast of sixteen students performed for two well-attended matinees, with autographs afterwards. They also toured to four local elementary schools during the school day. We were treated like movie stars, said Tracy McCreary, sophomore, who played the part of Amelia Eagle. Some of the kids would come up to me and say, Tm going to do that when I grow up' or others would just say 'I love you'. Interaction between the cast and audience was crucial to the success of the musical. To bring the audience closer to the action, Nancy Kessler, director, decided to place the children right on stage. I saw great interaction. It was so much fun watching the cast relate to the kids and in essence they became children again, Kessler said Most of the cast members would agree their strongest memory to be that of laughter and applause. The children feel free to respond more openly than an audience of adults, said Cori Davis, who played the part of Jack-in-the-Box. They are not afraid to react aloud, boo or applaud, at something funny. It really makes a difference! by Rebecca Schuyler Nichol BiniwcU Nivhrtl Bird ell ‘Psychedelic Cits' is only one of the songs the cast of “Aesops Falables energetically perform for an audi- ence. Molly Sullivan, senior, along with Juniors Cori Davis and Kinsey Katchka dance to the boat of the 60’s style music. Excited to have won the race against Horace Hare. Jim Frakes. junior, accepts the applause of his fans. Ju- niors Sonya Ledbetter and Kinsey Katchka: Sally Carter, senior. Me- lanie Younger, freshman; and Mol- ly Sullivan, senior, cheer for the Tortoise. Ntch ) Birdfccll 24 Student Life Aesop's Falables