Broadway on Baker Street—by Gjergji Evangjeli '10

The Catholic Memorial drama program has drawn an experienced, motivated crew of many talented actors this year. Even some students who have the desire and work to get better have joined the drama club. In the fall, I performed in Twelve Angry Men, a play written by Reginald Rose and directed by Mr. Colarossi. It takes place in a court where twelve jurors are deciding on an African American's guilt or innocence for the murder of his father. "Juror #8" is the only one who believes in the man's innocence, and fights to get all the other jurors to agree that he is innocent. I played juror #11, an immigrant who had experienced so much injustice in his life that he changes his idea on the defendant when he is reminded that all suspects should be "innocent until proven guilty." In 1950s America many prejudiced people would assume a man was guilty just because he was black. Juror #10 expressed that belief. Along with me, Pat Simas '10, Brendan Shea '11, Julio Baez '09, Connor Lynch '10, Brendan MacNabb '10, and others participated in this production.

Some of the members of the drama club practice their talents in drama on the Forensics team with Coaches Brother Cavet and Mr. Croteau. The team has won first place in four tournaments this year: Albany High School, Hall of Fame Tournament, Early Pumpkin Tournament, and the Brother Frippon Tournament in New York City. They won the NFL "most points" award at the National Forensics League Qualifiers tournament. The season is coming to an end, but the State competition is coming up on April 12. Several team members will be traveling to Appleton, Wisconsin in May for the Catholic National Finals tournament.

Just a few weeks ago, on March 1, the CM players performed A Number at the Massachusetts Drama Festival held at Attleborough High School. A controversial play about cloning, this one, written by Caryl Churchhill, depicts a father tempted to clone his own son in a laboratory after his son died in an automobile accident. After several unsuccessful attempts at cloning "B-1" and "B-2" and other flawed characters, some of them start questioning the father for their creation and the father cannot answer them. All he can respond with is that he tried to recreate his son to relive his experiences with him. But he only created monsters in the end. Connor Lynch '10 and Brendan Shea '11 won Best Actor awards at the festival. Brendan MacNabb '10, Greg Sabina '09, Kyle Clement '09, Pat Simas '10, Julio Baez '09, and others also performed.

There is more drama to come this year. Mr. Colarossi is talking about another drama production for May. Music teacher Mr. Spaner is producing and directing the spring musical Guys and Dolls which will be on April 15th and 16th.