Salina South High School - Preener Yearbook (Salina, KS)

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Flowers For Algernon In the world where much emphasis is placed on being socially, physical- ly, and intellectually, 'fnormal , a moving, humorous yet tragic play, written by David Rodgers, has brought a thought provoking evening to the audiences of the South High Drama Department. Flowers For Al- gernonw was presented November 14th, 15th, and 16th and was well re- ceived as the first all-school play this year. The entire plot of the play evolved around one single character, Charlie Gordon, portrayed by David A. Ol- son. Charlie, 32 year old retardate with tremendous motivation to learn, later becomes a bitter, emotionally confused genius. David A. Olsonfs amazing talent to go from a convincing retardate, to an obvious genius truly displays his hard work and dedication in theatrics. Supporting David's Charlie very strongly were Barb Meier, as Alice CCharlie's teacher-girlfriendb, Jerry Lineback CDr. Strauss,Charlie's good friend and doctorj, Mark Robertson CProfessor Nemur, a scientist inter- ested in Charlie as an experimentj, and David R. Olson as CBurt - the sympathetic man who tests Charliel. Maria Shoultys QCharlie's motherl and Robert Brake CCharlie's Father? portrayed in a very realistic manner the reactions and feelings which very often occur in parents of a mentally retarded child. Julie Nelson's por- trayal of Mrs. Donner, Charlie's em- ployer, is a very warm and protective character. Mrs. Donner would not al- low Frank CBrian Sadlerj and Joe fDavid Exlinel to tease and make fun of Charlie. Mrs. Mooney, as skillfully played by Brenda Penney, gave the play a delightful comical touch. The lighting effects, which includ- ed a question mark, a maze, a barber shop pole, and a tree in Central Park, added tremendously to the scenery. Vocal effects such as the children singing Three Blind Mice, the teaching machine, and the questions asked from the audience, all proved to really get the audience involved. Special congratulations should go to Miss Jeanine Rishel, and Mindy Shields, assistant director, on a pro- duction well choosen, well produced, and well received. I ?' 10,15 I 0 Q5 4' w- , . Lili . 4.

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ff ..741.,, ., f . . , .f rf., 1 A' -. C' n--0 iid f' -, ., f . ff w mv., :,w,f,y,-me-wi. ..,,,,. K ,,,. H fwiuzwam-Maw fff' f 1. Teenage Charlie, iportrayed by Bobbie Broylesj torments Charlie, David Olson, at the emotional climax of the play. 2. Alice QBarb Meierl and Charlie share a tender moment while realizing that their time together will be short. 3. Charlie says good-bye to his old friend, Algemon, in the closing scene of the play. 4. Little Charlie iportrayed by Jeff Jen- senl begs for his mother to hold him. 5. The stagecraft class worked hard preparing flats for the performance. 6. The cast of Flowers For Algemon relaxes after working hard to have a good performance. 0 theatre

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The Tale Of Peter Rabbit South's drama department topped its season off successfully with a Childrenis Theater Production, HThe Tale of Peter Rabbit. This colorful, imaginative presentation depicted the well-known story of ornery Peter Rabbit disobeying his mother's orders and straying into Mr. McGre- gor's garden. Bobby Broyles led the cast as Peter Rabbit, clearly winning the hearts and sympathy of all young spectators in the audience. David A. Olson turned in a convincing performance as cranky, crotchety old Mr. McGre- gor. Brenda Penney played the role of his patient, matronly wife, while Lucy, their cute little granddaughter, was Debbie Goering. Aside from the Mc Gregors, the cast was exclusively animals. Emily Boyd and Dan Langvardt were two bad lit- tle mice. They played their roles well, furtively creeping back and forth across the stage while planning their horseplay. Robert Brake was the ner- vous, nut-hunting Squirrel Nutkin. Mrs. Twiggy-Winkle, Mrs. Rabbit's laundress and confidante, was played by Jennifer Nelson. Barb Meier, playing Cawdy the crow, was excel- lent. Her actions and facial expres- sions could not have been better. Wendy Gottberg, Dianna Pittman, and Terri Pasek were Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cottontail, while Maria Shoultys played the role of Mrs. Rabbit, their mother. Benjamin Bunny, Peter's cousin and cohort in hijinx, was played by Jerry Lineback. While the plot of this play may not have been as deep as the others put on this year, it required no less work. The makeup work, a must for the as- sorted animal cast, was outstanding. The pink, floppy-eared rabbits and sly little mice were adorable thanks to their facial makeup, and Cawdy the crow was also done well. All char- acters were well-costumed, from roly- poly Mrs. Twiggy-Winkle, the hedge- hog, to the mice and Cawdy. Susan Harris play