Pekin High School - Pekinian Yearbook (Pekin, IL)

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DRAMA After burning Algernon, Charlie pleads with God not to let Algernon’s fate happen to him. To make sure that Charlie Gordon, Ryan Gerkin, is the person for the experiment, some tests arc given to him by a nurse. Lisa Rohe. ‘Algernon’ is 5th in State dramatized by the doctors, portrayed by John Knight and Richard Taylor, who view Charlie the same way they view a laboratory mouse. Another aspect of the play is explored in the relationship between Charlie and his teacher, played by Gina Heussner. When Charlie has the mentality of a five-year-old, the teacher regards him fondly as a happy little boy. However, as he becomes more and more intelligent, the two fall in love. As Charlie begins to regress, he forgets his relationship with her, while she can’t deny her feelings. She finally leaves him because he can no longer understand her feelings of love for him. The play finished ahead of many other flashy, lavishly set plays because of the gut emotional sympathy Gerkin elicited as a man with no control over his life. Thus, Pekin proved that the best play isn’t necessarily the most elaborate one. A few well designed platforms and true emotions are still recognized as good drama. Charlie’s doctors, seniors John Knight and Richard Taylor, read over one of the many progress reports Charlie writes while his tape recorded voice is heard. For the first time since 1977, the contest play went to IHSA State Competition, where it received fifth place. Ryan Gerkin was also honored at State by being named a member of the all-State Cast, an honor comparable to being named a member of an All-State sports team. “Flowers for Algernon,” a one-act play directed by Glenn E. Smith and Larry Truckenmiller, is the story of a retarded man, Charlie Gordon (Gerkin), who becomes brilliant as a result of an operation designed to increase his I.Q. However, the brilliant man recognizes all the cruelties of the world that he had been blissfully ignorant of while retarded. The theme of the play relates to how uncaring man can be for his fellow man, especially if his fellow man is intellectually beneath him. This aspect of the play is 26 Contest Play

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DRAMA With make-up and costume on. Ginny Buttram wails in the dressing room for her cue. Opposite Page. With her date due to arrive at any moment. Penny Petrow urges Dana Rush and Ryan Gerkin to move the freshly painted table because it’s “tacky. This time taking the shortcut across the beach was not such a good idea, as the sea weed-covered Terry Bonnette and Penny Petrow found out as a disgusted Rick Taylor looks on. Take a bow ... The play is over, and the cast responds to a curtain call. The island’s best plumber. Scott Lenaway. makes The morning after a “slumber” party can be dif- Dana Rush aware that her cross flanges look a little ficult. Freshmen Dawn Dulley and Penny Petrow weak. slowly crawl out of sleeping bags after a long night. Drama Portfolio 25

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D'l.t ‘'HR his stage crew how to build the set for the fall plav i' cal director I 1 ruckenmiller. ( nnsiruettof a set that can be easily transported from school t 1 is just one lallenees facing the stage crew. Here. Shelley Strassc m Stauffer hl making a platform for the contest play Behind the “scenes” last line is read, the curtain calls are taken and the director breathes a sigh of relief. The play is over, and the actors can forget their lines. Backstage the parents and friends of the actors hug and kiss; everyone is excited. The audience sees the play as glamorous. Does anyone ever think of what goes on besides learning lines and fitting costumes? Along side of the actors are a few who do. They are the stage crew. Crew can be a thankless job. Few realize that long before the curtain is pulled to the side and lights flood the stage, a lot more than learning lines goes on. An entire set must be built and lighting must be planned. All this does not appear magically; it has to be constructed by the stage crew. Construction usually begins about a month in advance of the play. Designing and supervision of the set is done by Mr. Larry Truckenmiller, who has been in charge of the stage for eight years. Crew works on three major sets during the year; fall play, spring play, and contest play. The crew also helps with any performances that are held in the theatre. By far the most enjoyable set to work on is contest play. The contest play set must be made mobile because it must travel with the actors to the schools where the contests are held. “I like contest play best because the designing is the most challenging, comments Mr. Truckenmiller, “Also with contest play, the crews get more excited because of the competitive nature. Working on crew can be a great experience. Students who work on the crews learn some basic skills of stage craft. Junior Jim Stauffer says, “I didn’t know what went into constructing a set when I started, but by the time I was through helping with one I knew quite a bit, maybe even more than I wanted to.” Although the crew docs not always get the recognition that they should, the job is still rewarding and fun. After the work is all done and they can sit and enjoy the play, they know their work was worthwhile. Drama Portfolio 27