Classic film adapted for GHS theater
Lou Marzeles
News Editor
It's a story about a forgotten man, and it's all too often forgotten itself. But this Friday, My Man Godfrey will be vividly recalled on stage at the Grange Hall, at 7:30 p.m., presented by the Goldendale High School Drama Club. The play is presented this Friday and Saturday and again the following weekend, Nov. 20 and Nov. 21.
Maryanna Kruse, English teacher at the school, adapted the 1936 film into a play for this production. She was struck by its themes and stage potential. With the film now being in public domain, she was free to adapt it without concern for copyright infringement.
Starring William Powell and Carole Lombard, the movie was a comedic tale of the Great Depression. At one point someone mentions to Godfrey, played by William Powell, that something they're expecting is just around the corner. "Is that the same corner prosperity is just around?" Godfrey asks. The story opens with rich socialites trolling local hang-outs on a scavenger hunt-for a forgotten man. That was a term for the countless men down on their luck in the height of the Depression. The wealthy socialite with the most derelict forgotten man would be proclaimed winner of the scavenger hunt. Finding Godfrey as her contest entry, Carole Lombard's character then begins a rollercoaster ride in discovering the true nature both of Godfrey and of herself.
"I just thought it would make the best play," Kruse says. "It works well, though we had to condense a lot of locations down for the stage." In her production, there are seven different locations, ranging from a shanty town sprawling under the Brooklyn Bridge, with the hut where Godfrey lives, to the drawing room of a wealthy family.
"Scott and Felicia Gray painted a New York City skyline for the production," Kruse says. "The Brooklyn Bridge wasn't in the original film, but it works better for the stage."
The cast for the play is large, but not nearly as large as the range of characters in the film. "We had to be creative with how we did some scenes," Kruse recalls. "For example, the scene in which the forgotten man contest is held has dozens of extras. We found a way to do that scene utilizing crowd noise."
Kruse found that the film ended up substantially different from its original screenplay. "It was clear that a lot of changes were made as the film went along," she says. "The story adapts itself well to changes that fit the stage. And it's a story that really speaks to our time."
As if all that weren't enough, the play also features a live goat, on stage, down at the Grange hall.
Tickets are $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and children.
Heroes to be honored
Justin Garrigus
For The Sentinel
Do you know a local hero? Someone who has stepped up and helped somebody, who has saved lives through prevention, preparedness, and response? Someone who is willing to share their story?
The Southwest Washington Red Cross is hosting a Real Heroes Breakfast to recognize individuals who have performed a single act of heroism this past year in Klickitat, Skamania, Clark, Cowlitz, Pacific, and Wahkiakum counties.
The Red Cross will present the awards at the Real Heroes Breakfast March 12, 2010, at 7 a.m. at the Vancouver Hilton Hotel. A panel will review the nominations and select heroes for these categories: Medical Rescue Hero, Animal Rescue Hero, Youth Good Samaritan Hero, Adult Good Samaritan Hero, Workplace Hero, Educational Hero, and Professional Rescue Hero.
This will be the 13th year of the Real Heroes Breakfast, and it is the signature fundraising event for the Red Cross. "This event is greatly embraced and supported by communities across the counties," says Senior Development Director of the Red Cross, David Fenton. "The stories that are told touch the hearts of those who listen and bring many to tear up a little bit. The Real Heroes Breakfast recognizes everyday people who do extraordinary things, who step in and save lives, and this event is for thanking those people."
Nomination applications for this event are available at the Washington Red Cross website, www.swwashington.redcross.org. They can also be obtained in local hospitals, police, or fire departments.
Classical radio station boosts signal to Gorge area
Cities up and down the Columbia River Gorge, including Goldendale, White Salmon, Hood River, and The Dalles, now have a much stronger classical music FM radio signal. The All Classical station has increased from 44 watts to 3,000 watts-a 6,000 percent increase.
In order to facilitate its signal coverage, the All Classical station in Hood River (previously 90.1 FM) is now located on the FM dial at 88.1. Additionally, because parts of The Dalles may have trouble receiving clear transmission on 88.1 due to geographic barriers, All Classical transmits another signal at 96.3 FM in The Dalles.
"After months of working on mountaintops in all weather conditions, our great crew of staff, volunteers and specialists got the new Gorge radio stations on the air," said Larry Holtz, All Classical FM's vice president of engineering. "The equipment reaches more people than anticipated."
Changes in FCC regulations and cooperation with Oregon Public Broadcasting allowed All Classical FM to obtain the necessary licenses to take advantage of this opportunity. Additionally, a Corporation for Public Broadcasting digital conversion grant of $75,000 and funding from the Autzen Foundation, Jackson Foundation and Oregon Cultural Trust made it possible to fund this extension of coverage to listeners in several Columbia River Gorge communities.
All Classical FM is a 24-hour non-profit classical radio station based in Portland and broadcasting throughout southwest Washington and northern Oregon. Established in 1983, it provides classical music and fine arts information to radio listeners and to a broader audience via the internet. All Classical also strives to increase audiences for local performers and performances, thereby further enhancing the region's cultural environment. All Classical's signal is broadcast in the Columbia River Gorge region on KQHR 88.1 FM and in The Dalles at 96.3 FM and in Portland on KQAC 89.9 FM. KQAC 89.9 FM and its repeater stations are non-commercial public radio stations, relying on community contributions which provide more than 80 percent of their budgets.
The stations also receive financial support from local businesses and arts organizations that underwrite programming through on-air sponsorships. A small portion of the stations' annual budget comes from foundation grants and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Additional information can be found at the stations' website at www.allclassical.org.
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