From the Jaguar Reporter, Vol. II, North Hampton Jr. High School, Jan. 1966
“Do You Belong in the Theater?”
by Heather King
“The title for this year for our annual Junior High play is The Haunted Tea Room by Anne Coulter-Martens.
This year the play will be a comedy-mystery. There will be nine characters as opposed to the twenty-seven of last year. Help will be needed with make-up, scenery, publicity, ticket sales, etc. These jobs give even the worst actors a chance to contribute to the play.”
Thomas glanced at the picture. It showed the face of a shrewd ragamuffin. He observed that the average age for criminality was steadily lowering . . .
– Flannery O'Connor, "The Comforts of Home"
Heather, your prose at that age is much better, much clearer, than mine would have been! At age 11, or age 13, I was addicted to polysyllables. (The more things change, etc.) I'd have probably written something about "those whose thespianic versatility does not transcend the purlieux of the mediocre."
I acted in one play in high school. It was a play about people putting on a play and messing it up big time. The Scheme of the Driftless Shifter. With such a script, my own "thespianic mediocrity" was a lot less of a handicap!
For some reason I awake now at 3 and don't want to go back to sleep until 7. First I pray and then check out the internets.
We do have a lot in common. I didn't hit North Hampton Elementary until 7 years later.
At that time I was a "fetus".
This part is my favorite: "These jobs give even the worst actors a chance to contribute to the play."
🙂
Is it too late for me to sign up?
mojavehicular's quote is so much more clever than what I came here to remark and the source is so appropriate that I will merely "like" or + that sentiment.
Oh definitely, the noblesse oblige, worst actors bit was the whole point. I, of course, was poised to land the juicy part of "Linda Berry, a pretty young Miss."
My junior high English teacher Wayne E. Elliott arvhived all the stuff from something like 37 of his classes and sent me a whole envelope a couple of years ago. I did an NPR piece on this saintly man and on a trip home got to read it out loud in front of him, his wife Betty, and some of the townspeople of North Hampton, NH at an "event" at the Stratham Public Library…such are the highlights of my "career"…also included in his package was a hand-written note: "Dear Mr. Elliot, etc. etc. I've had some really good times in your classes, and I hope that you enjoyed them too. But I think that one of the most rewarding experiences was this year's play. I'll never forget the learning and fun I had." And apparently I never have!…
What this really brings back for me is the unforgettable smell of mimeograph ink and the days when my mother used to type the bulletin for our parish. She would have to cover up mistakes with some kind of correction fluid and wait for that to dry before she could type over it. I can see her blowing on the stencil to make it dry faster. The typing always took longer that she expected, and then she would have to pack us all up and go to the church office which would fill with that peculiar smell as she ran the bulletin off. I think she might have drawn some little designs, too.
AMDG,
Janet
Wait, Novasold, you attended North Hampton Elementary as well? And yeah, those old mimeograph machines had major huffing potential!
Yes I did. We have that in common too. While NH is not the best in Catholic formation I wouldn't change that locale for upbringing for the world. So close to the ocean.
My Mom loves your book and discussion of the area.
Also, you grew up just around the corner from me. I lived at New Road.
And,the Theresas are my favorite intersesors. I believe they are responsible for my reversion. I am a duplicate of the Little Flower but an exact of Avila in attitude.
God is good.