Good morning, everyone!

Songs you should listen to before Monday evening:

• “When You’re an Addams” — https://youtu.be/2Dbu9poMxwQ?si=EHuaVA3VKidDLauW
• “One Normal Night” — https://youtu.be/7APQPvzCvdk?si=DDQ2a72PXlJd3Ksp

The VHS Drama Club will present the drama ‘These Shining Lives’ on stage at

Valley High School, November 2-4, 2023.

AUDITIONS:

Wednesday, August 30, 2023

6:30 pm, VHS Chorus Room

About our play:  Narrated by one of the workers, Catherine Donohue, These Shining Lives shows women getting a chance for a well-paying job in the 1920s and early 1930s, which was uncharacteristic for the time in the United States. The job, which seems easy enough to the four main characters, is painting the hour markings onto different-sized watch dials using a radium compound that glows in the dark. Radium Dial, the company that hires the women to do the painting, tells them that there is no evidence that radium is harmful, and even that it has health benefits. After a period of time, the workers notice that their hands start glowing in the dark, but assume that it is just from the radium powder that is used to paint the faces. The ladies then develop ailments, including jaw infections and bone pain. Several local doctors, including the company doctor, overlook the women’s concerns and prescribe aspirin, which does not help. Ultimately, they have to travel to the city (Chicago) to find a doctor willing to put his name on the line and diagnose the women with radium poisoning. This, in turn, helps the four main characters decide to file a lawsuit against Radium Dial. An attorney, Leonard J. Grossman, agrees to take the case for free, with Donohue as the lead plaintiff.

Characters:

Female leads:

Catherine Donohue/Narrator – The main protagonist.

Charlotte Purcell – Straight-talking and tough. Although she is sharp when she first meets Catherine, they soon become good friends.

Frances O’Connell – Viewed as having the moral backbone of the four women.

Pearl Payne – Easy-going and chatty. Likens to Catherine straight away.

Male leads:

Tom Donohue – Catherine’s husband. Feels emasculated when Catherine first gets the job, but warms up quickly to it. Fiercely protective of his wife.

Mr Reed – Radium Dial Supervisor.

Others:

Dr Rowntree – Makes a brief appearance promoting the perceived value of ‘Radium.’

Dr Dalitsch – Doctor in Chicago who diagnoses radium poisoning.

Leonard Grossman – The attorney who agrees to take the case to court.

 Auditions: Death of a Doornail

Wednesday, August 29, 2018
7:00pm
Valley High School Auditorium

Auditions for the upcoming ‘Death of a Doornail’ will be held on Wednesday, August 29 at 7:00pm in the VHS Auditorium.  Auditions are open to all students in grades 7 through 12; we are looking to fill 10 roles and various crew positions.

About Death of a Doornail:  Eccentric Millionaire, Albert Doornale has invited all of his close friends to his estate; including his ex-wife Abigail, his current fiance Candy Bombay, and his childhood friend from the Lower East Side, Salvatore Carbone.

Everyone arrives at the estate greeted by the grumpy Butler and cutlery carrying cook. The only problem is, Albert is not there, no one has seen him. Not his nerdy Nephew or his socially spoiled daughter. None of the guests have any idea why they are there or what happened to their host. That is until blood is found in the upstairs bathroom. 

Was Albert killed and carried away? In the nick of time, Inspector Bukowski arrives on the scene. A murder investigation will begin, as soon as a body is found. It may be a long wait.

Roles:

Narrator: Host of the mystery.  Just wants the evening to go smoothly for everyone in the audience.

Audience Member 1: Thought he was going to a ‘Free Form Karoake’ evening but has ended up at the murder mystery.  Wants to sing ‘Mack the Knife’ but may stay for the play.  Most likely sits in a big stuffed chair at home and talks back to the television, therefore a live play should be no different to them.

Audience Member 2:   Tries somewhat to keep her friend under control in public when she can get him to go out. Would like to stay for the play  since she probably tricked him into coming.

EDWARD (THE NEPHEW): Typical “Poindexter” type of character you would see wearing a school blazer, bow tie and round horn-rimmed glasses. Is always up for a good intellectual challenge, whether it’s finding Uncle Albert or solving a murder.

PRICILLA: Daughter of Albert Doornale. Born with a silver spoon in her mouth, spoiled rich girl. Accustomed to having everything done for her and having her way. Would have someone else “think” for her if she could. Wants “daddy” and ’mommy” back together.

CANDACE BAMBAY: Current Girlfriend of Albert Doornale. Very naive in the ways of the wealthy. Only sense of social culture has probably been learned in bowling alleys, beauty parlors and bars. Wants to fit in.

MORTIMER: Typical English style butler. Very dry and unemotional in appearance. A lot smarter and “hipper” than he lets on.

MRS. MORGANFORD: The bored and bitter cook. Carries around a butcher’s knife just in case she needs to cut something.

SALVATOR CARBONE: Albert’s childhood friend from back East. As where Albert made a fortune and became rich, Sal’s money was earned on the streets with the other Wise Guys. Has been invited by Albert to the estate. Expects that his old friend “Al” is going into a new business venture with him.

ABIGAIL DOORNALE: Ex-wife of Albert. Loved being rich and established and hates not being rich and established. Is in hopes that Albert has invited her to reconcile their marriage.

INSPECTOR BUKOWSKI: A police inspector who is eager for a big case to fall in his lap. Has not had a “big” case yet. Or even a “medium” case. Has read about big cases. Is quite sure he could handle a big case if he had one. A big murder case would be cool.

ALBERT DOORNALE: Eccentric Millionaire who has invited guests to his mansion.