Cooper High School - Talons Yearbook (New Hope, MN)

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HLottie, Shannon Smith, wmces as Inspector Crandall, David Webber, whips out his badge to prove his identity. 1 After putting cyanide in her husband's cocoa, M . Hollister, Wendy Waszut, is surprised to find Edgar still alive. Fall Show 21

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Cast Gives Best Shot ew people and new ideas formed the backbone of the fall play, The Murder Room, an English comedy about an eccentric, wealthy man, Edgar Hollister, and his wife Mavis. Mavis married Edgar only for his money, and after living with him for one day determined that she really hated him and decided to murder him. Several things go wrong, however, and the plot twists and thickens into a tangled web of deception and intrigue. An absence of directors caused some of the more concerned actorsiactresses to panic, until the school hired Todd Hanson and Jim lbister. The new direc- tors brought new ideas to rehearsals such as trust exercises which en- couraged trust among cast members, leading to a cast that worked well together. Rob Thompson exercised the cast physically and mentally every night to heip bring more energy to the show. Hanson, a graduate of Cooper, said, Cooper has so much talent, it was real- ly difficult to pick the cast. Hanson and his co-director lbister both attended St. 20 - Fall Show Cloud State University where they ma- jored in theater. The directing and acting progressed as planned in the four and one half weeks they had to prepare, but the construc- tion of the set caused much distress because it could not be built until the week immediately preceding the open- ing of the show. Todd and Jim were really a breath of fresh air with their ideas, said Scott Brown, the delivery boy. Although the cast endured lack of sleep, the annual fall flu epidemic, and long rehearsals, Corey Hels said the last week was Incredibly hectic, crazy, fast-paced, uniquely stimulating, hyperactive and wonderful. -. I Mistaking Constable Howard, Corey Hels, as her father, Susan, Julie Mundale, embraces him. a Lottie, Shannon Smith, is not quite sure what to think as Barry, Jon Kohnen, sings Home on the Range, as an after-dinner diversion. 1 CAST: Front row: J. Mundale, C. Hels, W. Waszut, J. Kohnen. Back row: 5. Brown, S. Smith, D. Webber, J. Olson, M. Stickney.

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Actors' Nightmare ronically, the title fits. The lead, Tom Nynas opted to withdraw from The Actors' Nightmare only two days before the region contest, to par- ticipate in a fencing competition, leaving the cast in a nightmare of a situation. Because director Steve Ek knew that Nynas would be in Florida should the play win to go to the state festival on February 14, he had assigned understudies. However, the sudden de arture cau ht both him and the cast offpguard. Ek ad assigned Jon Hunt to understudy George, and Scott Getchell received Hunt's role. They had two days to memorize their lines and learn the blockin . Thanks to their dedication and an all- ay Friday rehearsal, they per- formed at the region contest on Satur- day, February 7. Lighting technician, Chris Cook said, I was sur rised at how uickly they recovere and how Sedicated the were after the sudden loss ofthelea . iActing a scene from ltSeparate Lives, Amanda Uill Larsonl and Sybil tMollie Stickneyi pressure George to choose between them. -. In her star performance, Mollie Stickney plays the part of a bag lady, and Jon Hunt plays the part of Willie from the show Checkmate. --.I Director Steve Ek touches up Jill Larson's make-up before a dress rehearsal. 22 - One Act Play The story of the show revolved around a man who did not know who or where he was. Everyone called him George and told him he was a character in plays he knew nothing about. He began by acting a scene from Private Lives. Then he was thrown into a scene from l'Hamlet followed b Checkmate by Samuel Becket. Final,- ly, he layed Sir Thomas More in A Man or All Seasons. With his beheading by the Executioner, played by Scott Getchell, the audience was left wondering whether or not it was all a bad dream. Mollie Stickney received a star for her performance as Ellen. Other cast members included Kelle Nathe as Meg and Jill Larson as Sarah. Although they didn't place in the contest, the cast did perform at Robbinsdale Armstrong High School, and roved they could rise above the dif icult situation handed to them by pulling together.