Newspapers / Meredith College Student Newspaper / Jan. 29, 1988, edition 1 / Page 4
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Alice in Wonderland a fun tradition ■by Angle Stroud "I remember laughing loud and long." says Jean Jackson as she reminisces on the first time she saw the Meredltft facul^’s special version of /i//ce/n Wonderland while a freeman at Meredith. Every four years the Meredith faculty per forms ^e play and has done so since 1924. The program explains that the production is for "The amusement and bevirfldemnent of the students." says Helena Allen, director of the pl^. Gertrude Royster, director of Physical Educationfrom 1906to 1941.cameupwith the idea. Elizabeth Delia Dixon Carroll, the college physician, had ordered a quarantine because of a flu epicemic. so Royster decided to have the t^tty do the play to entertain the stu* dents who were bored from having to stay campus. ■'It was such a howling success that they decided to do Afc?//? WtwoWaotf everytbur years." explains Dorothy Menitt niece of Royster arid member of the class of 1933. The night of the production holds as many surprises for the cast as it does for the students. This aspect of the pn^duction has existed sinre its conception. According to Mary Lynch Johnson's A History of Meredith Coitege. during the pn> duction of 1924, eveiyone was shocked when Lois Johnson, a faculty member play ing the Quwn of Hearts, left her fingerprints on the cheek of Academic Dean Boomhour, who was playing tJ^e King of Hearts v\tien she slapped him. In the rehearsals, "she had merely feigned the blow." (p. 170) The spontaneiiy which has come to be a long-standing tradition of the production, often tums Into a game of payback for the cast members. One year the Mad Hatterdecided totiy to throw Alice off guard virhen he added to his lines in an address to her. "you se)^ thanng!' Four years later. Alice got the Mad Hatter bad with an unexpected fire from a water- gun. As the 1988 performance will be her last before she retires. Allen has asked Jean Jack son. English professor, to be the assistant director so that she can become director in 1992. Jackson, first-time assistant director, says that “It's a lot of fun to put the produc tion on. and I say that with anticipation." (Her face tums red as she laughs.) It takes a lot of hard vt/ork and there are a lot of lines to be memorized. A few years ago Dean Burris was having trouble memorizing his lines and had to resort to pasting them on the back of his shield. Norma Rose. English professor, pro claimed that had he been required to memo rize and recite Itierature lines while In college he would have no trouble with his Alice in Wond&land lines. Not only does the faculty have to hard in getting the production ready for the stage, but th^ take a great deal of pride and seriousness in tt>e production. Allen told of an episode several years ago when a new instructor in the Music Depart- n^t tailed to memorize all of his assigned lines. Mai^ of the other cast members became angry with him for not teaming his lines, and the new instructor replied in shock over their scorn. "Damn, th^ are really serious about this play." "At dress rehearsal, people are staggering around feeling that Is is going to be a disas ter. but It always goes off wonderfully." said B«nie Codiran. Religion Professor. The pnoduction "uses the talents and would-be talents of f^lty members.” ex plained Jackson while lauahinn. Atice in W^mdertand affords the feculty members with an opportunity to "goof off’ said lone Knight English professor. It also provides the feculty with a means to get to know one another better and outside of the Acuity meeting situation. This beo^rDes more of a benefit as the faculty continues to grow. "Aiice builds a more cohesive faulty just as Comhuskin* builds class unity." Jackson said. Anticipation from both faculty and stu dents builds as the performacne time draws near since the play is produced only once eveiy four years, explained Jackson. 'The perfbTTTiance brings out the impishness of the faculty." added Jackson. A lot of the fun of Alice in Wonderland was how the characters had parts either totally out of character or parts that fitted them to a tee. said Menitt Mary Lynch Johnson played the Cheshire Cat for many years. After Alice recites a long and complicated poem, the Che^ire Cat is quick to comment, ‘‘it’s every bit wrong." This would always bring down the house said Cochran. Since Johnson loved cats but would never be so blunt about a student’s work, the part both was opposite yet seemed appropriate, said Knight. TTiere are no auditions for the play, how- everfaculty members are often pegged fora particular role in the production. "Once you are asked to do a part, saying 'no' is not an option." explains Betty Brewer. English Pro fessor. Last fall, almost tw^ years before the 1988 production, members of the English Department v/ere attending a poetry read ing at the Museum of Art and among the conversation topics was talk of what new faculty members should be cast fbr particu lar roles in the pn3duction. For students, part of the real fun of Alice in Wonderland is that the casting of parts is kept secret by the f^lty. Even the program g iven out the night of ttie perfonnance does not identify which faculty member has vkThichpart Once the cast does come onto stage, you cannottell who the characters are until they first speak because of thar elabor^ cos tumes and makeup, explained Brewer. The next production of Alice in Wonc^- iandvi scheduled for February 4 at 8pm In Jones Auditorium. The production Is open onlyto Meredith students because of limited space in the auditorium. Ailen says that the Acuity had considered doing the pnxJuction twice in February and to invite an>^ne from the community to attend. It was decided, however, that doing the perfomrtance twice would take away from the spontaneity. "No one in the com munity needs to see our ^ulty making fools of themselves." said Brewer. When asked what advice she v\K)uld give students to prepare themselves fbr Aiice in Wonderland. Jackson said, "Come expecting to be surprised, expecting to be entertained, expecting to leave with fuller perspectives of your professors and plenty of ammunition to use later," She loves her new LOOK! She wanted something different, a hair, style that is easy to care for and artistically designed just for her. So she asked her FOCUS ONE hair designer about the Art Design Concept...a con sultation and a drawing, if necessary, of the hairstyle before the cut. This way we make sure you get exactly ihe look you are looking for. 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Meredith College Student Newspaper
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Jan. 29, 1988, edition 1
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