Interestingly enough, these Saipan students are on the wave of a crest of revivals of George S. Kaufman works.
Theatre-goers to Broadway itself are seeing one of these plays, “The Royal Family,” presented at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre this month.
Another one of Kaufman’s plays, “Once in a Lifetime,” written with Moss Hart, is on stage this month in Los Angeles. Saipan students are presenting a retro play that is totally in vogue.
Both the New York play (“The Royal Family”) and the Saipan play (“Stage Door”) are part of a three-comedy series that Kaufman & Ferber wrote involving high society in a time of a crumbling economy and fiscal gloom.
Both revolve around the theatre itself and the actors and actresses whose livelihoods depend on it.
Ann Angeles, who has a leading role, said that her philosophy for preparing has been “to feel the characters and memorize lines.”
She’s determined to be serious about the play, which is the right way to play comedy.
Director Dowen Jocson has a more practical attitude. “As long as the actors act and we direct them, there will always be a show,” she said.
And a “show” is theatre lingo for something worth seeing.
The play is a cooperative effort among students from Marianas High School, Saipan Southern High School, and Saipan International School, who make up the cast.
A three-student directing team (Dowen Jocson, Judy Tiples, and Christian Cruz) has been coordinating the large cast of students, aided by their stage manager, Riya Nathrani.
A design team, including Donna Herrera, Donna Montan, Rochelle Dimapilis, and Rozette Bunao, has worked on marketing, posters, tickets, costumes and set.
Harold Easton is the Thespian chapter director, and teacher/advisor for the production.
Easton said, “I have had an easy time, because students did all the work.”
The play will be staged at PIC’s Charley’s Cabaret on Tuesday, Oct. 27, and Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for students, and can be obtained in advance from any cast member or at the door.
Taga’ Riders clean up library grounds
THE grounds of the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library were visited last Saturday, Oct. 17, by members of
customized motorcycle aficionados — not with their motorcycles and uniforms but this time with their riding mower and yard cleaning tools, a media release stated.
The Taga’ Riders Saipan CNMI decided to commit themselves to perform community service and outreach activities whenever they are available so they donated their in-kind services of labor of love toward the periodic upkeep of the public library grounds in Susupe.
“One of our members, namely Daryl Terlaje, suggested for us to do a one time yard work for JKPL,” said group vice president Vince Lizama.
The recent cleanup was the group’s fourth.
While they do not promise a certain time frame time commitment, the Taga’ Riders will try their best to maintain the public library grounds as often as they can based on members’ availability.
“We were received by a warm welcome and open arms by library staff Lin Naputi and Celina Foreman,” Lizama said. “I personally felt appreciated by these two wonderful girls. So, I made a strong recommendation to the rest of the members that we will try and continue. Plus, JKPL provides fuel, oil, and strings.”
He added, “We would also like to acknowledge Mr. Ed Camacho of Island Equipment Rental for loaning his water blaster that was used to clean the courtyard of our library.”
Thanks to the vision of one, the push of another, and the support of the rest, the seed of commitment and a sincere desire to make a positive difference in our community through service and volunteerism has led to the consistent upkeep of our lone public library for the benefit of our general public patrons who visit it for the passion of reading and lifelong learning, Lizama said.
The CNMI Library Council, the Library Friends, the hardworking staff of JKPL, and all supporters and benefactors of the public library are grateful to the Taga’ Riders for their voluntary contributions toward providing quality recreational, informational, and educational library services to the community.
Red Ribbon Week
AS a way to promote better decision making, Eskuelan San Francsico de Borja students from Rota will join other schools in Guam and the U.S. along with the officers and staff from the Pacific Regional Training Institute in participating in this year’s Red Ribbon Week activities schedule for Oct. 23 to 31, a media release stated.
Last Friday, PRTI kicked off its Drug Abuse Resistance Education program at ESFDB and hosted a series of events designed to give students the opportunity to learn more about specific areas where better decision making can make a big difference.
According to PRTI regional supervisor Edward Maratita Jr., the campaign began the tradition of wearing a red ribbon as a symbol of intolerance toward the use of drugs.
Maratita encourages the Rota community to wear red ribbons during the week to promote substance abuse awareness, and find new and innovative ways to keep kid’s drug free.
The Red Ribbon campaign was started over 20 years ago when drug traffickers in Mexico City murdered Kiki Camarena, a federal agent.
Camerena’s family, friends and neighbors began wearing red ribbons to show their support and let everyone know they would continue his fight against illegal drugs.
At ESFDB, the week is held not only as a way to promote the drug-free lifestyle, but also to encourage students to make better choices in all aspects of their life.
Topics that will be discussed during the week include drug and alcohol awareness, gang violence, reckless driving, domestic violence, and terrorism in school community.
HUMANITARIAN MISSION. Bridge Capital LLC donated $5,000 in support of the American Red Cross Club 200 event held last Saturday at the Hyatt Regency Saipan. Photo shows representatives of the company, officials and members of the NMI chapter of the American Red Cross. Contributed photo
Graffiti subcommittee meeting
BEAUTIFY CNMI’s Graffiti Subcommittee meets today, Monday, Oct 26, 5:30 p.m., at Whispering Palms School on Navy Hill.
The members are planning to spend the first part of the meeting making a quick recap of the last meeting’s minutes, followed by a Powerpoint presentation of the photo journal.
Legislative forum
THE Office of the Council on Developmental Disabilities has rescheduled the legislative forum set for Oct. 30 on Tinian.
The forum aims to provide the advocates of the CNMI disability community the opportunity to provide outreach and educate stakeholders on the needs of individual with developmental disabilities.
The new tentative schedules are as follows:
• Dec. 4, Rota
• Dec. 11, Tinian
• Dec. 18, Saipan
For more information, call 664-7000/1/2.
Continental announces third quarter results
HOUSTON (Continental Airlines) — Continental Airlines has reported a third quarter 2009 net loss of $18 million ($0.14 diluted loss per share). Excluding $20 million of previously announced special charges, Continental recorded net income of $2 million ($0.02 diluted earnings per share).
Third quarter results continued to be adversely affected by significant declines in high yield traffic as business travelers are flying less and purchasing lower yield economy tickets due to the global recession.
Zoning Board gets federal grant
WASHINGTON, D.C. (U.S. Interior Department) — On Oct. 22, Assistant Interior Secretary Anthony M. Babauta signed a grant in the amount of $141,062 for the Northern Mariana Islands Zoning Board capacity program for fiscal year 2010 as requested by Gov. Benigno R. Fitial.
The assistance for the CNMI Zoning Board is to improve management of land use and development which is critical to its economy and quality of life in the villages. A similar grant in 2007 and 2008 was used to complete the Saipan zoning law.
TRAVEL FAIR. Hundreds of military personnel and civilians attended the Anderson Annual Travel Fair last Oct. 15 on Guam. The Marianas Visitors Authority passed out destination DVD and brochures and spoke to potential visitors. In fiscal year 2009 the CNMI received over 18,000 visitors from Guam. Contributed photo
