! \()lume 30. issue 13 Apri 22 1994
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Maine South U.S. Park Ridge. IL
Oliver! opens this weekend by Brad Haak The halls of the P.A. wing have been bustling with activity as the Maine South Fine Arts Department prepares for its annual Spring musical. This year's production, Oliver! (based on Charles Dickens's classic tale) opens tonight and promises to be one of South's finest musical productions. Work on the show began several months ago with the workshops and auditions for the adult roles. Maine South also invited local elementary and junior high-schools to send some of their talented students to audition for the children's roles, adding a new dimension to the overall performance. Nearly 20 kids were given roles, offering a great incentive for them to continue their involvement when they reach Maine South. The rehearsals progressed from there, with members of the cast meeting virtually every day after school until 6:00 with Mr. Muszynski, the stage director for Oliver! In addition to learning the staging, cast members attended vocal rehearsals with Mr. Danckwart and choreography rehearsals with Ms. Sinclair-Day. Several weeks later, the Pit Orchestra members began their rehearsal. Under the direction of Mr. Pressler, the producer, the pit has added perhaps the most crucial element in the overall effectiveness of the entire show.
Nancy, perched atop a piano, sings "Oom-Pah-Pah" to the patrons of the bar in one lively scene of Oliver! Photo by Bill Grzesinski Under the supervision of Mr. Sanchez, Technical Director, the stage crew put in many hours of "overtime" in preparing sets, Ughting, sound, and props. The costume committee, headed by Ms. McCleneghan, faced the challenge of fitting an additional 17 child-sized bodies as well as the rest of the
cast With efforts from several groups, Oliver! promises to be an enjoyable show. Oliver! can be seen on two Fridays, (April 22 & 29), and two Saturdays, (April 23 & 30), at 7:30 PM. It can also be seen on Sunday, April 24 at 2:00 PM. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the door.
First Aid Team recaptures title by Alison Adlaf On March 12, Maine South's First Aid Team had a record to uphold and some revenge to be had at the Mid-America American Red Cross First Aid Competition. The school had taken first place in the Competition for ten consecutive years until last year, when the team took third place as a result of a technicality. In 1994, however. South was more determined to win and it didjust that, taking a clean sweep of first, second, and third places. The team, coached by Ms. Candy Purdy, began practicing after winter break lo get its skills up to perfection. At the competition, the three Maine South teams, which have four members each, would work on three scenarios. For example, one might have come upon a victim who, while hiking in the woods
during a thunderstCHtn, was struck by lightning. He then hit his head, landed in a spiderinfested patch of underbrush and is now spurting blood from a deformed left forearm. The team is to provide first aid for twenty minutes, until professional help would arrive. Each member must know how to perform CPR, rescue breathing, and secondary surveying, among other skills. A live victim is provided to be reassured, splinted, and bandaged. A judge closely watches the team's every move because every step, small or large, has a point value attached. Approximately seventeen teams from the area competed, ranging from girl scout troops to junior EMT's who had been trained by paramedics. Nevertheless, Maine South reclaimed its title and more, taking third and
second place and tying for first The point difference between the top two teams was a mere ten points. The third place team consists of first-year members Conrad Jakubow (captain), Adam Megacz, Kate Rowland, and Ken Lai. Members of the second place team are Kimberly Biala (captain and President of First Aid Team), Gary Bothman, Manoj Mishra, and Bob Mc Vey. The first place team, all first year members, consists of Alison Adlaf (captain), Rudyard Sadlier, D.J. Kosinski, and Nora Slattery. "Victims" who voluteered their Saturdays were Cathy Owsiany and Rich Elliot. Congratulations to all, and especially to Ms. Purdy, who hopefully will return to lead her team to victory again next year!