Littleton High School - Record Yearbook (Littleton, NH)

Page 31 text:

queline Reynolds, Betteann Stevens, jean Ri- card, Lillian Allen, Roberta Corey, Make-Up: Betty Wood, Rhoda Downing, Phyllis Collins, Yvette LaCroix, and Prompters: Stephanie Eaton, and Roberta Ryan. Mr. William Morris, as director of this pro- duction, was largely responsible for the success of the play. His optimism, patience and perse- verance encouraged the members of the class through long weeks of rehearsal. Justus Beal as student assistant director showed unusual talent. The class was unusually fortunate in having the use of very beautiful old-fashioned costumes and special properties loaned by Miss Marion Cass. This made the dramatization outstanding and something that will long be remembered. o...-,4.f W., On the evening of March 25, three one-act plays were successfully presented to the public. Under the capable direction of Mr. Morris of the faculty, assisted by Justus Beal, a senior, these plays were representative of the growing interest in dramatics being displayed in Little- ton High School. The first presentation, Special Guestw was the suspense-filled story of a grief-stricken mother's plan to kill the detective who shot her son. The constant presence of her dead son's ghost added to the tension and finally prevented murder from being done. The cast included: Janet Hooper, excellently cast as the neurotic mother, Raymond Morrison, more than con- vincing as the ghost, David Lewis, amusing and appealing as the shiftless, unsuspecting husband: Durwood Lamarche, the harassed intended vic- tim, and Rosalie Cooper, the innocent bystander. The program continued as The Happy Journey , done entirely in pantomime, unfolded. No scenery, except a platform and four chairs representing a car, was used for this tale of an imaginary journey of a family of four to visit a married daughter. The audience's response was ample proof of the cast's success in making the trip seem real and humorous. The play featured Sara Ellen Hyde, outstanding as the long suffer- ing mother who knew what was right even if she couldnlt say it so goodgl' Charles Copen- haver, the never-sit-still typical American boy: Sheila Halen, the modern daughter, a little her old-fashioned mother, Bruce meek and mild husband, Jackie married daughter, and Ian Mac- stage manager who supplied the ashamed of Leavitt, the Golden, the Donald, the parts of various characters. The third production, f'Submerged'l was the tense dramatic story of six men trapped in a wrecked and submerged submarine. David Colby, the courageous skipper, John McDonell, the frightened boy, Robert Fitchett, resigned to death, Nolan Santy, half way to 'ell already, Donald Sawyer, tense, waiting, and Alfred Lane. contemptuous of weakness, skillfully portrayed the fear-stricken men, one of whom must be shot through the torpedo tube to mark their position for rescue ships. This realistic presenta- tion held the audience in suspense and was ex- pertly handled. Indeed it was so expertly handled that the cast was chosen to go to Durham, April 2, to participate in the New Hampshire State Drama Festival. Our representatives competed against twenty schools, giving an excellent performance and receiving very high ratings. Littleton High looks forward to an even more successful year in dramatics next year and en- courages even more participation and interest. -37-

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wr Lginior pfay After reading many plays, the members of the class of 1954 decided to present as their annual Senior Class offering Roland Fernand's drama- tization of James M. Barriels story, The Little Minister? This was one of the most ambitious productions ever attempted by any L. H. S. cast. This was a period play that combined authen- tic costuming, special nineteenth mid-century scenery and unusual offstage sound effects tin- cluding a full-fiedged thunderstorm.J There were many dramatic moments and the members of the cast had a chance to show proficiency in the handling of difficult roles. Briefly, the play opens with the arrival of Gavin Dishart, the Little Minister tLarry Pres- byj and his mother, Margaret Dishart CDorothea Lewisj at their new home in Thomas, Scotland where Gavin is to assume the duties of pastor of the parish. He finds himself confronted by many problems, the most important being the unrest of the country workers who are rebelling against the pompous land owner, Lord Rintoul fAlfred Lane.b These men are led in their revolt by a beautiful gypsy maiden, Babbi fjoan Roddyj. As the plot develops the Little Minister falls in love with this lovely girl and then finds his prob- lem that of making the members of the rural parish accept the girl of his choice. Of course, all ends happily, and Gavin and Babbi are mar- ried with the blessing of his mother and a happy ending of the parish feud. Other members of the cast who contributed their talents were: Irene Finn as a servant girl, Vernon Wood, a wayward parishioner, Edward Cryans, village physician, Allvin Leonard, special officer, Patricia Clarke, an eight-year-old girl, Betty Dickerman, a neighbor woman, and Evelyn Lewis, an elderly woman Hon her way to the poor house. Other students serving on special committees were: Property Manager: Katherine MacKay, Stage Crews: Wilbur Parker, Norman Duval, Robert Leach, Paul Gadbois, Lighting: Allvin Leonard, Business Manager: Katherine Mac- Kay, Tickets and Programs: Janice Celley, Joan Thompson, Irene Finn, David Colby, Jacqueline Reynolds, Publicity: David Lewis, Caroline Burgess, Ushers: Thelma Bixby, Jac- .-261

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