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

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4 1. Mercy and Abigail exchange looks. 2. The “Devil” afflicts children in court. 3. Anne Putnum practices scolding. 4. Abigail and Proctor rehearse a secret meeting. 5. Proctor and Elizabeth will not let go. 6. Mary Warren informs the Proctors of her court duties at rehearsal. 7. Salem is bewitched. 28 — Winter Play

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The Code of the West influence of some powerful sleeping potion! The town is outraged and embarrassed at their ridiculous behavior. Sneaky is quickly put back into his place in the dust and the town returns to its normal state. The play’s theme is the idea that being the most respected and feared person does not make you the most happy. Jeff Phillips, the director, picked “The Death and Life of Sneaky Fitch” for the one-act, keeping in mind the strict contest rules. Mr. Phillips also arranged for the show to be performed three additional times during a school day for Cooper audiences. Other characters included Christy Montour as Maroon, John Elsen as Rackam, Wina Mortensen as Calamity, Heidi Hesse as Lily, and Loren Sawatsky as Sheriff Oglesby. Todd Hanson received an acting award for his performance as Reverend Blackwood. The student director, Laurie Schroeder, said, “Our western one-act pulled a strong second, and I was proud of the cast’s performance.” The cast of the one-act play, “The Death and Life of Sneaky Fitch” worked hard together to lasso a trophy as runner-up in the Region VIAA One-Act Play Contest. The contest round-up was held at Cooper in January, and seven schools competed for the title. “Sneaky Fitch” is a western melodrama which takes place in the Old West. All the necessary ingredients were present including a sheriff, a dance hall girl, a town sweetheart, a town drunk, and, of course, the fastest gun in the West. The story unfolds as the Street Singer (Judy Utecht) brings the audience into the Western town of Gopher Gulch and introduces the residents. The no-good-drunken-coward Sneaky Fitch (Mark Hennen), gets sick and the town eagerly accepts him as a dead man and starts the funeral. Imagine their shock when the “dead man” bends his chaps and jingles his spurs at his own funeral. Sneaky is given all the privileges of a god-like hero, and he takes full advantage of his position until Doc Burch (Phil Darg), pronounces the entire thing a mistake. Sneaky had not died, he had only ber under the Contest Play —

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A Timely Test “A severe test or hard trial” defines a crucible. It was indeed quite a test for not only the characters in the show, but also the actors and actresses who played these characters. Director Gretchen Heath chose to do The Crucible for the winter show, feeling it was time for another serious drama that people could relate to their lives. The story was based on the true facts of the Salem witch trials in 1692. These facts tell the story of a restless group of young Puritan girls who pretend they are afflicted by the devil’s witches. Many innocent people are forced to confess to witchery or be hanged. The girl’s leader, Abigail Williams, (Deb Streeter), is in love with John Proctor (Todd Hanson), and so accuses his wife, Elizabeth (Jackie Horner), of being a witch. He fights to show the court official, Mr. Danforth (Phil Darg), that the girls are frauds by making one, Mary Warren (Tammy Olsen), confess that they are all lying. The Reverend Hale (Bill Cavanagh), an expert from a nearby town, and the Reverend Paris (John Elsen), of Salem watched the terrifying shrieks and mad behavior of the girls in the chaotic court scene with horror. The audience was left with a feeling of deep respect for John Proctor who was hanged because he would not confess to what he had not done. The audience was also torn by the injustice and by the thought of how something similar could happen today. Other characters were well played by Patti Becker, Lisa Brandt, Karen Chandler, Sandy Cloutier, Erik Dickovich, Mike Dols, Peggy Fursman, Chuck Hennen, June Jin, Mike Lindquist, Wina Mortenson, Loren Sawatsky, Mark Streeter, and Diane Welty. Juniors Terri Flasch and Ken Gellerman were student directors. The actors and actresses had to study the background of the real Salem witch trials. They practiced authentic Puritan posture and speech to make the show as realistic as possible. Actor Erik Dickovich commented, “It was really demanding doing such a serious show, but everyone managed to have fun too.” Winter Play — 29