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Show iLi'l Abner' production follows tradition of quality By MARCELLA WALKER Elaine Hansen always manages to ome up with a winner. This year is io different. The Pleasant Grove "ligh School's production of "Li'l Jibner" was very entertaining and Jayed to a near capacity house each right. " From the rousing beginning to the omantic ending there was continual action which kept the audience on its Joes and involved. The comments from the adults ound about was that it is amazing rfhat a professional performance dgh school students can make. It is hie. The long hours of practice, pany times not without complaint, 'eally pay off when a production omes off with few flaws as this one lid. For days prior to a performance, parents may not see much of their Jrids who are in the play. The kids may wail that they have to practice (.00 much. The price is worth it, kids. ' The casting for the show was, as isual, very fitting. Brent Mills took ;he starring role of Abner and )layed it to the hilt. Maybe it is latural personality, but his per-'ormance per-'ormance was believeable and lots )f fun. The other one who seemed to steal ;he show, along with Brent, was Susan Southam as Mammy Yokum. Her petite size made her not only look like Mammy, but she sounded like what you would expect Mammy Yokum to sound. Michelle DeJel was Daisy Mae. She did a very fine performance of the beguiling miss out trying her darnedest to catch Li'l Abner. The audience was particularly taken with Andrea Holdaway as StupeFyin' Jones. Though she had no lines, her body said it all for her and she could stun a man with just one jiggle. The girls in the audience were nearly awestruck when the five body builders arrived on the scene as the husbands who had been used in an experiment with Mammy's Yokum Berry Tonic. Clay Jackman, Barry Adams, Darren Page, Brian Wilkes and Barry Jenkins were imported from a local health club to perform in the production. Director Elaine Hansen usually uses a few imports in her casting and she brought in Cliff Dunstan from BYU to play Marryin' Sam. He did a superb job and probably has played the part before. Kyle Johnson, one of the talented players from last year's "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers," was back to perform for the local audience. He brought a new mustache with him. Working with a large cast such as , this, about 75 people, is a challenge and Elaine carried it off with aplomb. The dancing, singing and sporting around was delightful. It was interesting to see Brent Mills as Abner stumbling through a ballroom dance in the arms of his intended, Appassionata Von Climax, played well by Lisa Spivey. In real life, Brent is a very talented ballroom dancer who has won many awards. Abner's clodhoppers would not have been easy to dance in anyway. Hats off to the orchestra who played the music from the show very well. Live music adds so much to a musical production such as this. One tiny fellow, I believe it was Cameron Hansen, Elaine's child, captivated the audience . with his antics, especially lugging what appeared to be a very heavy rock as his contribution to the "necessary" things which would keep the government from blowing up Dogpatch with a nuclear bomb. Assistant director for the production was Jane Williams from Pleasant Grove Junior High School and the student director was Karla Clayson. Choreography was under the direction of Elaine Hansen with Brent Mills and Julie Brown assisting. Julie Brown and Jenny Beagley were rehearsal accompanists. ac-companists. Jon Carter was the stage manager, posters were by Dan Lewis and Alton Hone. Jack Hill was in charge of tickets and programs, Jerry Elison did the set design. The lighting design was by Gary Chamberlain and Doug Bezzant did the sound. The technical crew were Blake Sorenson and Kyle Judson. Leon Honey conducted the orchestra or-chestra which was composed of ; Shelly Childs, Jason Carpenter, Tina Yeamans, Laura Candland, Brenda Gillrnan, Benka Kofford, Eddie Candland, Dean Lundell, Warren Wakamatsu, Matt Ash, Will Kimball, Kim-ball, Paul Mecham, Kristi Aland, Naomi Murata, Robyn Richins, Trent Bristol, Jackie Rushton, Noel ' Stott and Todd Bills. ' Apparently, Ray Fugal was a last minute replacement on Saturday. At least he was not listed on the program but he appeared in one scene as an example of Mammy Yokum 's Yokum Berry tonic results. He did well. We are now looking forward to next year's production. It will be as great as the last few, I'm sure. |