Zanesville High School - Comus Yearbok (Zanesville, OH)

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Drama Department Presents Tragedy On Friday, November 20, and Saturday, November 21, the Drama Department of ZHS presented William Shakespeare’s tragic love story “Romeo and Juliet . The cast also presented a special performance for students on Saturday afternoon. Bob Sweeney played the role of Romeo, and Juliet was portrayed alternately by Julie Ferguson and Vicki McCarty. This variation of characters gave the play a different style each night. Cast as the heads of the two quarreling families were Bruce Bennett as Lord Capulet, a head-strong father who wants Juliet to marry Paris, and Dick Graham as Lord Montegue, the very social-minded father of Romeo. Connie Renner as Lady Montegue and Betsy Brown as Lady Capulet played the demanding wives. Mercutio, a kinsman of Romeo, was played by Web Norman, Benvolio, a nephew of Montegue, was por- trayed by Jon Kullman, and F'riar Laurence, Romeo’s confident was played by Sherman Ayers. The nurse, played by Amylou Pyle, a confident of Juliet was very out-spoken throughout the play. Kevin Shiplett was cast as Tybalt, the nephew of the Capulets, who was killed by Romeo. Paris, a nobleman chosen to marry Juliet, was played by Steve LaMonica. The cast also consisted of many minor characters. Romeo climbs the trellis to profess his love to Juliet. This picture gives a good view of the balcony, a reproduction of the one at Stratford- on-Avon, which was constructed by the stage crew. BELOW LEFT: Vicki McCarty, a sophomore, played Juliet at the Friday night performance. BELOW MIDDLE: Romeo was played by Bob Sweeney. The authenticity of the costuming is noted in this picture. BELOW RIGHT: At both Saturday performances Juliet was portrayed by Julie Ferguson. The two girls, each having their own interpretation of the play, gave a different flavor to each performance. 11

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After a successful performance the cast of “Romeo and ances of William Shakespeare's famous tragedy. The Juliet” assembles on the set to take their final bows. The picture shows the authenticity of the costuming, auditorium was filled to its capacity for all three perform- Juliet pleads with her parents. Lord and Lady Capulet to forget their plans for her marriage to the Count Paris. RIGHT: Romeo (Bob Sweeney) and Juliet (Vicki McCarty) exchange vows secretly in the cell of Friar Laurence (Sherman Ayres). 10

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Play Costuming Authentic In an effort to achieve authenticity careful planning went into the costuming for “Romeo and Juliet.” The styles and materials used were of the exact period in which the action occured. Finding Juliet in the tomb and thinking her dead Romeo drinks some poison to end his own life. LEFT: On the eve of the Capulet’s ball Romeo and his friends don masks to sneak into the dance. The “maskers scene was one of the most enjoyable in the play. In the final scene Juliet awakens to find Romeo dead. Finding no poison left in the vial she grabs Romeo’s dagger. Oh happy dagger! This is thy sheath. There rust and let me die.” Juliet dies, ending this tragic love story. LEFT: Overhearing Juliet profess her love for him Romeo climbs the balcony to tell her of his own love. In this scene the young couple plans to be secretly wed the next day. 12