MSHSL SECTION ONE ACT PLAY COMPETITION -- Stewartville High School

Performing Arts Center, Stewartville, MN

The top two high school one act plays from the 1-A Region in Minnesota, compete for honors to perform at State. The performing schools were:

Byron
Fillmore Central
Kingsland
Pine Island
Rushford-Peterson
St. Charles
Triton
Wabasha-Kellogg

Plays being performed were:

"The Serpent" by Jean-Claude Van Itallie
"The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon" by Don Zolidis
"LAUGH-IN at History" by Sandra Henning Miller and Cast
"Crisis, Inc" by Daniel Munson
"Employees Must Wash Hands ... Before Murder" by Don Zolidis
"Wiler and the Hairy Man" by Jack Stokes
"Competition Piece" by John S. Wells
"15 Minute Hamlet" by Tom Stoppard

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I'd seen most of these plays either at the Sub-Section competition or at the Conference Competition, but was still impressed with the improvements made by all the directors and casts.

I happen to like off-beat theatre, and Jean Claude van Itallie is definitely off-beat. The kids did an admirable job with this. They were well directed and very precise, which was nice. Unfortunately, the piece itself was probably beyond the ken of the kids, so they really were only aping the movements that the director was giving them, rather than acting feeling any of it themselves.

"The Brothers Grimm..." is one I'd seen twice before, and unfortunately it was probably their weakest performance. I think they actually peaked at their first competition (where they took first place). The play, as directed, relies a lot on one particular performer to make it really sing, and he seemed to be not as involved as they needed him.

"Laugh In..." was one that I did not get to see.

"Crisis, Inc." is another play that I was familiar with. This performance was rushed and lacked passion.

"Employees Must Wash Hands..." is one of those plays that amazes me that it made it this far. The performance was goofy without purpose, and not particularly tight.

I could easily go the rest of my life and not have to watch another performance of "Wiley and the Hairy Man" and be very happy. I'd seen this cast earlier in the season and was very unimpressed, but this performance was spot on! Fantastic. I actually enjoyed the play for the first time! What a delight to see these kids make this leap. This was my pick for first place.

"Competition Piece" was a cheesy bit of a play, but well directed and performed. These kids are a tight unit. My pick for second place.

"15 Minute Hamlet" was just about the most embarassing piece of theatre I've ever seen. Slow-moving, plodding, dull, lifeless, limp. What other adjectives can I think of to describe this?

Surprisingly, to me, "Competition Piece" was the play to come out on top, making this at least the third time in four years for this school (St. Charles). My congratulations to them (though I still think "Wiley..." should have won).