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Saratoga Sampler
Saratoga High's 'Working' a winner at the Fringe
By Mary Ann Cook
WORKING WINS ACCLAIM: Some 25 Saratoga High drama students won international acclaim when they took their production of Studs Terkel's play, Working, to the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland, in August. Their version of Working won a rare, five-star review from Broadway Baby, a theater website.
The review said because the play has no leads or narrative thread, the play "relies on all-round performances and succeeds triumphantly. Because it uses workers' actual words, they come across as genuine and moving ... a real gem."
The Edinburgh festival is the oldest and biggest fringe festival in the world. Today there are major fringe festivals in cities throughout the world, including San Francisco. But Edinburgh has the most pizazz. Every available space is pressed into service to act as a stage during August--warehouses, restaurants, hotels. The Saratogans performed in Pilrig Church, for example.
The Fringe is a major venue for comedians: Monty Python gained momentum there. Acts come from all over the world--circuses, magicians, one-man shows and productions from accomplished high school troupes--such as Saratoga's. Kathleen Woods is the drama instructor behind the overseas adventure, and Yvonne Harter was a chaperone.
CHARTING THE OCEANS: An article detailing the work of oceanographer Eric Terrill is featured in the October issue of Popular Mechanics. Terrill is a researcher and the director of one of Scripps Institute of Oceanography's research centers in San Diego. He's a Saratoga High grad of '88.
Terrill's work involves analyzing severe weather effects on the open seas, studying hurricanes, clearing beaches. He describes himself as "50 percent scientist, 50 percent engineer, 50 percent adventurer." (Doesn't say anything about his flair for mathematics.)
Eric is the son of John and Dorothy Terrill of Saratoga, and his doctorate is from UC-San Diego and Scripps. He is married and has two young sons.
OUTFITTED FOR HOLIDAYS: The Butter Paddle will close Oct. 30 to reopen Oct. 31 resplendent in its holiday finery, including Waterford crystal, designs by Annie Glass and Arthur Court, blankets from Little Giraffe, Santas and stockings from Woof and Poof, Steinbach nutcrackers.
Unique ornaments and holiday gifts are found here, and gift wrapping is free. The Butter Paddle is run by EMQ Junior Auxiliary, which supports EMQ Children & Family Services. Store manager is Geri Forsyth, and president of the auxiliary is Caryl Pozos.
Ginger Turnbull heads up the display committee on changeover day, assisted by Eiko Johnson; Rita Bonasera and Susan Gutterman are co-chairs of the stock committee; Lynne Seay is head buyer, assisted by Laura Tucci. Other buyers are Jennifer Tynes, food; Beth Berger, books; and Stephanie Whisnant, gadgets.
OLIVIA IN TOWN: There was an Olivia sighting last week--Olivia de Havilland, that is. The famed actress and LGHS grad stopped by the Book-Go-Round, the former main Saratoga Library, and reminisced with volunteer staffer Mary Jean Gravkin. "I used to dust the books in the children's section for 25 cents," said Ms. d. I fancied that she came back to town for a visit down memory lane and to take in San Jose Rep's current play called Moonlight and Magnolias. It's a screwball comedy about the frenzied rewriting of the screen play for Gone With the Wind, and, surprisingly enough, is based on fact to a large degree.
The play has producer David Selznick, director Victor Fleming and writer Ben Hecht isolating themselves together for five days in order to complete the screen rewrite. Since Hecht has not read the book, the other two enact it. The illustrious former Saratogan may be the only one of the stars of that movie still alive.
LOCAL AUTHOR: Lolly Winston, author of the New York Times best-seller Good Grief and the more recent Happiness Sold Separately will speak at the Saratoga Library on Nov. 1 at 9:30 a.m. "Winston imbues her narrative with the kind of grace, bitter humor, and rapier-sharp realness that will dig deep into a reader's heart." So said Publisher's Weekly in a review of Good Grief. Both novels deal with deeply painful events--the death of a young husband in Good Grief, and infertility and infidelity in Happiness. Movie rights to Good Grief have been sold to Universal Studios.
When Elaine Brett flew to Atlanta recently with a copy of Grief in her hand, two people stopped her to praise the book. Brett is a Friend of Saratoga Library.
RELIVE THE CELEBRATION: DVDs featuring the entire Saratoga @50 celebration, including that humongous parade of 7,000 souls, are on sale through KSAR, the community TV station. They cost $25 and are available by calling 408.741.5617, reports Tom Stoiber, president of the KSAR council.
KSAR will show all the anniversary doings over Channel 15 for the next few months, beginning the end of October.
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