Meadowbrook High School - Sceptre Yearbook (Richmond, VA)

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Encore! Encore! (cont'd) uring the spring, the Drama department performed three one-act plays entitled “American Dream and other Delusions.” Over twenty-five hours of rehearsing were appre- ciated by three hundred fifty viewers. They gave four perfor- mances, three during the day to the English classes and another during the evening to the gener- al public. Before Breakfast, an ironic production, by Eugene O’Neill, starred one performer Shawn Stockwell as Mrs. Rowland. The play suggested the lack of communication in peoples lives. The audience observed Mrs. Rowland (alone on the stage) as she awoke before her husband, prepared breakfast and got ready to go to work. As she per- formed these chores she nagged her husband (in bedroom off stage) about his laziness and his unfaithfulness. During her de- No, it’s not to heavy. The Young Man (Barry Cook) takes Grandma’s pack- ages to the van. “Yes, quite good isn’t it.” In the Ameri- can Dream the Young Man (Barry Cook) explains his handsome features to Grandma (Sandy Gilford). nN Nm nunciations, gagging noises were heard from the bedroom. She gazed into the room and saw her husband with his throat cut from the razor he was hold- ing. A second play American Dream, was the climax of the three play series. The main characters included Daddy (Paul Haynes), Mommy (Cathy Cloud), Grandma (Sandy Gilford), the Young Man (Barry Cook) and Mrs. Barker (April Green). As Mr. Mingus stated “This play re- presented how people failed to communicate, love or show re- spect, honor or dignity. In addi- tion, they were denying those virtues upon which their society was founded.” In the play, Daddy, Mommy and Grandma lived together in a small meekly furnished apart- ment. Mommy and Daddy showed little respect to the old, but vivacious Grandma. They constantly threatened to call And Furthermore ... In Before Break- fast, Mrs. Rowland (Shawn Stockwell) nags her husband about his laziness and unfaithfulness. Before Breakfast American Dream The Zoo Story the “van man” and have her carted away to the old folks’ home. A misunderstanding arose when Ms. Barker and the Young Man arrived unexpecta- bly. No one but Grandma knew the reason for the Young Man’s visit. This comedy pointed out the absurdity of life when individ- ual roles were not understood. Drama student, Cathy Cloud reviewed the play’s success: “It was the first play which I was really a part of. Mr. Mingus did an excellent job of directing and the play came together very well.” The Zoo Story, an Edward Albee play was of a “different sort’. It drew the audience into the character’s emotional tur- moil. One sunny day Peter (Bryan Tunnell) was relaxing on a park bench when he was approached by Jerry (Rob Howe). Jerry joined Peter on the bench and they talked for a while, until, suddenly Jerry be- “Don’t do that!” Jerry (Rob Howe) ex- presses his anger towards Peter (Bryan Tunnell) over who has the right to sit on the Park Bench in The Zoo Story. came angry about having to share the bench. The argument turned into violence when a knife was introduced and Peter accidently killed Jerry. Jerry’s death left Peter and the audi- ence numb. All three plays focused on the loss of faith in traditional American values and the break- down of the ability to communi- cate. As i n most “dark com- edies,” there was humor in the tragedy of the characters’ in- ability to communicate. As the drama students “en- trance” into the world of the- atre was the drama classes’ in- troductory skills, the “‘exit”’ was the professional and personal theatrical expertise gained from their experience on the stage during their high school years. Cheers. The cast of the American Dream Ms. Barker (April Green), Dad- dy (Paul Haynes) Mommy (Cathy Cloud) and the Young Man (Barry Cook) enjoy a toast to a happy ending.

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Encore! Encore! “All the worlds a stage and all the men and women merely players. They have their en- trances and their exits and ev- ery man in his lifetime plays many roles.” he “‘entrances”’ that William Shakespeare was re- ferring to could have been inter- preted as a high school drama class which taught students the fundamentals of acting such as self-confidence, speech, and poise. Mr. John Mingus instructed students in skills necessary to continue on the stage after graduation. To provide an op- portunity to display their acting ability the Drama Department performed four plays. The Imaginary Invalid, an eighteenth century, French comedy was performed on No- vember 19th and 20th. The stu- dent spent well over forty-five hours practicing and rehears- ing. Argon, and main character, suffering was from hypocondra was played by Rob Howe. Bon- efoi (Bryan Tunnell) the “sneaky and conniving” and Beline (Lee Ann Wiiki) tried to persuade Argon to give the in- heritance money to them in- stead of writing a will and wait- ing until he dies. Meanwhile, Toinette (Sandy Gilford) the ““spicey’’ young maid, saw through their plan and warned Argon. Angelique (Cynthia An- drews) Argon’s daughter, mar- ried the man of her dreams Cleante (Jeff Brown) and solved her father’s dilemma. By planning to become a doctor, Argon’s son-in-law could save him a tremendous amount of money on his prescriptions. What could have been a dis- asterous situation for Argon at the beginning of the play turned into an advantageous one of him at the end. “It’s time.” Angelique (Cynthia An- drews) and Bonefoi (Bryan Tunnell) nervously wait in the wings before the Imaginary Invalid begins. “Bills, Bills, Bills!” In the Imaginary In- valid Argon (Rob Howe) is frustrated over his debts. CHESTERFIELD COUNTY VIRGINIA “Stage work is never done.” Corinna Makris puts some elbow grease into cleaning the stage in preparation for the Imaginary Invalid. f “Understand?” Mr. John Mingus gives some last minute directions to Lee Ann Wiiki and Cynthia Andrews for the Imaginary Invalid. LIBRARY The Imaginary Invalid 21

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“Be very careful.” The Young Man (Barry Cook) explains to Grandma (Sandy Gilford) that what he said could not be the truth in the American Dream. “Why Me?” In The Zoo Story a frus- trated Peter (Bryan Tunnell) is con- fused about his new companion’s erratic behavior. Before Breakfast American Dream The Zoo Story 23