TWO ONE-ACT plays about an eccentric family will showcase the talents of North Carroll High School Drama Club with public performances at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the school.
The Southern drama The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, and the comedic parody of it, For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls by Christopher Durang, revolve around the attraction held by the youngest family member for a collection of glass objects.
The collection is practically the only decor for a family of three in a run-down apartment in Depression-era St. Louis. The Glass Menagerie is what Tom, played by Nick McCourt, remembers of his sibling's lost romance.
In the play, Tom's sister, Laura, watches sunlight through a collection of glass animals. It's the only happiness for the disabled young woman, played by Alex Heard.
The nagging, domineering mother, Amanda, is played by Taren Van Heerden. She is a single mother with a Southern accent and antebellum values who struggles to live on the meager income earned by Tom.
"I chose Glass Menagerie because it's such a beautiful play, such a meaningful acting experience for teen-agers, a beautiful classic," said school drama instructor and play director Roberta Gore. "The relationships between mother and son, mother and daughter, son and daughter, are so interesting to me."
Assistant director Aaron Cole, a drama club member directing for the first time, is engrossed by the stress that builds on stage between mother and son. "The fight scene is really emotional. Nick and Taren respond to each other so well, it really feels like they're going to kill each other," Cole said.
A solo flute offstage, played by Karena Nadeau, lends a dreamy atmosphere in the wistful moments when Tom remembers his family's desperation.
The mother's plan for marrying off her daughter goes awry, after a poignant scene between Laura and the intended suitor, Jim, played by David Vaughn.
Point for point, what was troublesome or dramatic in The Glass Menagerie becomes fodder for belly laughs in For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls.
In Southern Belle, a bowl of glass swizzle sticks is the mesmerizing glass collection of an asthmatic hypochondriac, Lawrence, played with animated physical humor by Drew Hann.
In this version, the endless genteel Southern-style prattle by Amanda converts to bursts of sarcasm.
"You're so predictable, Lawrence, honey, it's part of your charm," says Amanda after hearing about swizzle sticks one time too many.
Amanda wrestles him to the floor when the intended future girlfriend is at the door, dragging him to answer it. The door is eventually broken down by Tom, who has brought Ginny home for dinner.
Ginny is played by a loud and eccentric Tiffany Kerensztenyi, who has lost her hearing from working in a noisy warehouse. Her idea of love is a punch in the shoulder. As it turns out, she's ready to buy a tractor and marry a farmer.
"Southern Belle is a parody and really funny to those who know Glass Menagerie. All the jokes are Glass Menagerie jokes. It's fun for the actors because they get to be over the top," Gore said.
Tickets are on sale at the school for $5. Any available tickets will be sold at the door.
Information: 410-751-3450.
Learn to dance
Classic ballroom dances are being taught every Friday at the North Carroll Senior Center, 2255 Hanover Pike, Greenmount. The center is behind and one floor below the North Carroll public library.
From 2:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m., participants can learn to tango, rumba or quickstep. The hustle, waltz, mambo and samba are taught, too.
The cost is $2.50.
Information: 410-239-6400.
Christmas crafts
A natural-wreath and garland-making workshop will be held at Charlotte's Quest Nature Center from 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 7.
Family members can learn to make crafts from natural seeds, pods, cones and other items.
Nature center volunteers will teach the crafts.
The center seeks volunteers to help plan, organize or carry out programs.
Information: 410-374-3395.
Project Linus deliveries
Several Baltimore-area hospitals could receive comforting blankets for their young patients from Carroll County Project Linus. What's missing is volunteers to deliver the blankets.
Hospitals that need a point-of-contact person include Sinai, St. Agnes HealthCare, Northwest Hospital Center, Greater Baltimore Medical Center, St. Joseph and University of Maryland medical centers.
Anyone who can deliver to a site once a month should contact Judy Walter at linus@qis. net or 410-374-9741.
Pat Brodowski's North neighborhood column appears each Wednesday in the Carroll County edition of The Sun.