With a flourish, the Homecoming play, "Brigadoon" I was presented on stage November 4. Selection of this play for production was so important as to lead to the theme of Homecoming itself: "The Magic of Memories." According to actor Bob Perkins, the comedy musical was chosen because "we wanted something that could have a little more involvement in it." Involvement was the keynote for the play because of the large cast, but more specifically because of the number of female roles. Perkins commented that the thing that impressed him most about the production is the fact that "we had so many people working and yet it went so smoothly." He continued: "It was Mr. Parker's first big effort here with a large cast show. We had the jobs so well divided up and the stage manager and technical people did such good jobs. I think anyone that saw it would think that it was a highquality production." Perhaps Chris Dell, who played the leading role of Tommy Albright, gave some reason for the fluency of its production when he said: "You never see these people during the year, but when you all get together and are pulling for this one goal, then you really get to know them. You learn to be courteous with them and see what they like and don't like. It's the person behind the character that you really get to know. That's why you can work so well on stage. You know how they're trying their best. " "Brigadoon" had audience appeal. A typical love story with a happy ending was blended successfully with music 4_ DISMALL Y, Vickie Durrington, playing Meg Brockie, recounts "My Mother's Weddin' Day." 5, ROBIN CANNON teams with Shannon Hawkins, playing Maggie Anderson, during the "Bonnie Jean Ballet." 6. "DOWN on MacConnachy Square" the townsfolk gather to market their goods. 'Brigadoon:' memories of magiC that enhanced the motions of the plot. Dell felt that not only did the musical "bring out the talent of the cast," but it was also "more fun for the audience because it broke up any monotony. " Although people who tried out for "Brigadoon" declared what part they wanted, some were cast into parts that were not their preferences. Bob Perkins, who played Jeff Douglas, did not want the part of the "comedian," which was similar to the one M assumed in "The Fantasticks." He said: "I was afraid of getting typecast as the person who just does the funny things. Comicals are fun, but they don't always have a lot of characte¥ development. When I first read the part, I said that I didn't want it because it wasn't as deep as some of the other parts. But the more I got into it, the more I found out that it had other sides to it too: he was the funny man for the lead straight lines. I got a lot better reception than I thought I would." Vicki Durrington shared a similar experience in her role as Meg Brockie. Although she did not try out for that part, she was later told by many that she "fit the part perfectly." Vicki found her part as a comedian was difficult to assume because of the temptation to "play out to the audience." There were many experiences that only members of the cast of "Brigadoon" could share. There was the first show, when Vicki began a song on the second verse. Perhaps more disastrous was Chris Dell's accident on a platform extension of the stage where he spilled coffee that subsequently dripped into the lap of a woman in the audience. The accidents of the production are taken lightly by the actors, however, and as Chris said: "No one has lived until he's been up on stage and forgotten a line." Plays ~ 19
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