Richfield High School - Aurean Yearbook (Richfield, MN)

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Student Lounge Lends Intimate Setting for The Crucible A combination of realistic costuming and brilliant acting brought alive the horror and terror of the Salem witchtrials to Richfield students as a cast of 20 performed Arthur Miller's “The Crucible. Forced to relocate the play because of the remodeling of the auditorium, the director and producer Lee Dudycha commented that “The student lounge provided a perfect setting with the right touch of intimacy for such a play as “The Crucible . His comments proved to be true as effective lighting transformed the lounge into the blackness of Salem, 1692. Greyed hair and wrinkled faces were obtained by skillful use of make up to transform RHS students into characters that served as historical models of that time period. Strong acting performances highlighted the two act play. The actors and actresses had received unusual insights into their roles beforehand as they had seen the Guthrie production of “The Crucible and had had a chance to talk to the actors themselves. The result was evident. The piercing screams of the girls who “saw the devil in their neighbors and the terrified denials of the accused sent shivers through packed audiences. With the final scene showing the tragic fate of the inhabitants of Salem, audiences slowly moved home, shaken and stirred by the powerful impact of the 1974 fall play. TOP LEFT: Mike Scott (Rev. Parris) laments over the illness of his daughter Lisa Rindel (Betty Parris). MIDDLE LEFT: Mark Holt (Danforth) questions Tom Countryman (John Proctor) on the legitimacy of Julie Ackerman's (Mary Warren) confession. BOTTOM LEFT: Peter McKenna (Giles Corey) confronts the court in defense of his wife. TOPCENTER: Julie Ackerman (Mary Warren) is torn by the accusations she has brought against the other girls. UPPER CENTER: Terry Davis (Tituba) exclaims her innocence with Tom Niemackl (Rev. John Hale) by her side. MIDDLE CENTER: Tom Niemackl (Rev. Hale) informs Sue Rodseth (Elizabeth Proctor) of her indictment while her husband Tom Countryman (John Proctor) displays his disbelief of the charge. LOWER CENTER: Tom Niemackl (Rev. Hale) explains the fearful situation in Salem to Tom Countryman (John Proctor). BOTTOM CENTER: Tom Countryman (John Proctor) and Sue Rodseth (Elizabeth Proctor) comfort each other before their final parting. TOP RIGHT: Peter McKenna (Giles Corey) tries to attack Steve Stewart (Thomas Putnam) but is held back by Tim Smith (Francis Nurse). „ MIDDLE RIGHT: Tom Niemackl (Rev. Hale) pleads with Sue Rodseth (Elizabeth Proctor) to save her husband's life by having him confess his sins . BOTTOM RIGHT: Kris Hanson (Abigal Williams) urges Lisa Rindel (Betty Parris) to wake while Mike Scott (Rev. Parris) consults with Joy Lundell (Susann Wolcott). Fall Play 25

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Sadie Hits The Hay If anyone had been passing Richfield's lunchroom between eight and eleven o'clock on the evening of December 7,1974, their ears would have been met by the sound of polkas. Were the senior citizens having a square dance? No, it was really R.H.S.'s annual Sadie Hawkins Dance. Planning had been started months before by the Senior Planning Committee. According to Karen Franzmier, “Everyone seemed to want something different than last year's fifties dance. It was for this reason that they decided to use the barnyard theme and polka band. Many worked long and hard planning decorations, picture backdrops, publicity and the like. Richfield students soon saw a farm couple staring at them from posters and heard daily announcements of the top ten eligible senior guys. The night of December 7 soon arrived and most of the 229 couples dressed quite in the spirit of the dance. Overalls, patches, suspenders and straw hats were common sights. The school itself had also been dressed for the occasion. Scarecrows sitting on haystacks were found in the halls, the sign in sheet was a big paper cow, and couples names were written on paper animals. Even the refreshment stand, which sold pop, was a country store. The Polka Men was the band for the dance. According to Leslie Hagen, Most couples tried to dance, but some were more successful than others. There were even a few collisions as couples got swinging! Pat Thompson added, The polka was a good idea because it was different and everyone could catch on fast. Marrying Sam (Dean Lapham and jim Edberg) was in attendance for those couples with matrimonial desires. For a mere 25c, a marriage license and ring could be purchased. Just a word of warning to those couples who managed to get hooked without paying; you're not legally married and are surely living in sin! TOP LEFT: Paula Kursu and Joel Peterson swing to a polka. BOTTOM LEFT: Music was provided by The Polka Men. TOP CENTER: Students take time out from polkas to try their hand at a circle dance. MIDDLE: Julie Thiel polkas with her Little Abner. BOTTOM CENTER LEFT: Vince Geiger, Carole Johnston, and Doug Eckerman pause from dancing to talk. TOP RIGHT: Couples find their names on the farm animals found on one wall of the lunchroom. MIDDLE RIGHT: Marryin' Sam pronounces John Justad and Mindy Hanson man and wife. BOTTOM CENTER RIGHT: Nancy Zillgitt and Joe Ruegemer. BOTTOM RIGHT: Mouseketeers Jane Buckley and Dan Dufresne. Sadie Hawkins 27