Stratford High School - Mnemosyne Yearbook (Houston, TX)

Page 56 text:

With magic flowing from his beckoning hand, Leading Player Mike Conway invited his dazzled audience to follow the cast of the UIL state ranked one- act play on a journey with Charlemagne's son, Pippin. Although rigid standards are set for UIL productions, Director Carolyn Boone chose the offbeat Pippin because she considered it a challenge to adapt the Broadway production for the competition. Mrs. Boone felt that the original script was difficult to work with 52 drama ull. production because the cutting I had was so small. It looked as though it would be hard to goin depth with it. We had to have a lot of characterization that just wasn't in the cutting. Major difficulties arise when you take a full length play and cut it into one-act. We had to steer away from the original Broadway show and come up with all new gimmicks, continued Mrs. Boone. Once the script was prepared, the cast and crew spent three weeks at long Fastrada, portrayed by Junior Alissa Alban, presents her son Lewis, played by Sophomore David Dukes, with a new Warriors belt. The court ot Charlemagne objects strongly to his denial of Sophomore Court Whisman 's desire for more land reforms. and strenuous daily rehearsals. ln working with the chorus to develop character movement, Junior Scott Bailey said, Boone worked with me to give me an idea of what my character was like. lt's hard to portray someone so innocent, but I can identify with his character in certain aspects. For example, Pippin is able to erase all of his mistakes and start all over again. Competition is overseen by only one judge. There is no system for scoring but the outcome is determined by the judge's subjective opinion. However, the play Leading player, played by Seniol Mike Conway, introduces Senior Ken Lewis as Ken peeks out from behinc his umbrella. Senior Mike Conway, amused by Pippin 's plight, poses to watch the SCGUE QOIHQ Oli. is automatically disqualified if it runs over forty minutes. Other UIL rules allowed only a fifteen member cast, a three member crew for lights, sound, and props, and the Basic UIL standardized set of grey platforms, steps and folding units. Finally the play went on to compete on the zone level at Stratford against Northbrook and Alief Hastings. Next came district, area, and then region competition on April 19. Numerous cast and individual awards were won before competition May 3 at Hogg Auditorium in Austin. Junior Alissa Alban said, We knew we had the best l show and all the capabilities. Senior Karen Breslau added, The show worked because it gave the established actors a chance to utilize their talents and the other actors to improve their talents. lt was the ideal show considering the talent that we had in our drama department. At state, Pippin placed third out of eight plays. Mrs. Boone said, The company was dedicated and professional. They worked through their own initiative. I was pleased to be there - to show off.

Page 55 text:

Honk for... The American way News Bulletin: On November 4, five hundred Iranian students seized the American Embassy in Tehran taking an estimated fifty hostages and vowing not to release them until the deposed Shah of Iran was returned to stand trial. A few days after the takeover o the embassy in Iran, several Stratford sophomores and juniors held a poster-making session which turned into a rally at the corner of Dairy Ashford and Memorial. This was the first of several rallies, the third of which was covered by all three major television stations. The first rally took place about two weeks after the hostages were taken, said Junior Boys President Rhett Rushing, and there were Showing their support, Sophomore Doug Donnel and Juniors Brett Bro- ker and Dave Stannard hold a flag for all to see while a byslander joins in, just a couple of posters and a lot of Confederate and American flags. It was pretty small. The second had very good attendance, but the first two were held during the day. The third was at night, and it was major. On one corner someone had a poster saying 'Honk if you hate lran,' and another Honk if you hate the Ayatollah, and on a third was 'honk if you Love America.' When we got out there with our posters, there was instant response, said Sophomore Lane McCullough. I think everyone left with a good feeling about America. When we saw that Iranians were protesting downtown, we decided to protest too, said Sophomore Andy Swanson. This rally showed that our club was interested in political events, and that we love America. People were forgetting what was happening, said Sophomore Doug Donnell, so we did something to help them remember. Then when the T.V. stations came, and I was interviewed I just said, 'lf John Wayne was alive he'd give the Iranian people a lot to think about and be scared about.' We had the rally to focus attention on the Iranian situation, said Junior Chris Greene. My mother liked the idea, so she brought my ten year old brother Andy and some of his friends. The whole rally was really uplifting, said Junior Scott Neal, and it added spirit to the Iranian situation. This type of rally tells people what we're thinking of, that we care, and that they should care also. It makes me proud to be an American. the american way 51

Page 57 text:

,z J 33, eel i Drama reaches state Fhe leading player attempts to show Dippin and his wife Catherine how dull ite will be without him and his players. Fastrada uses her sex appeal to convince her husband Charlemagne portrayed by Senior Ken Lewis, to see things her way. My character used her body to get everything she wanted and she always got lt, too, comments Alissa, The players, fascinated by the Leading Player, use their umbrellas as a decorative touch to the opening ol the show The umbrellas added a lot because we used them as different things all during the show, said Court Whlsrnan, STH-Nl ORS HGH SCHLJQLW HOUSVON Diesen me f--, sm Pippin manga o iw rn ol G by Music TV1ea!t8l I to l CAST I Least-g My C Pigpr, S B Chan Ke L Cainahn C 1 y PQ fasvfec P y Al AL, l le Pay C D D' 79 -2 9 D f r Q E 1 S H 11' valllurcx if yF3 ws Terre iA n i drama u.i.I. production 53