[NEohioPAL]Amherst High School produces THE MOUSE THAT ROARED

[Farschman]

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MLS Theatre Company of Amherst Steele High School presents
The Mouse That Roared
by Leonard Wibberley
November 10, 11, 12, and 18, 19
7:30 p.m.
Amherst Steele High School Cafetorium
Adults $5
Students $3
Thespians $2
Senior Citizens Free

Director: Valerie Farschman
Technical Director: Pat Sanders

It is fitting that the MLS Theatre Company produces The Mouse That=20
Roared, by Leonard Wibberley, which marks it=92s 50th anniversary this=20=

year.

The work first came out as =93The Day New York Was Invaded=94, a =
serialized=20
story in The Saturday Evening Post from December 1954-January 1955. It=20=

was published in February of 1955 as a novel, and in 1959 became a=20
film, starring Peter Sellers, who delightfully portrayed three=20
different characters.
=09
This story of a little country, the imaginary Duchy of Grand Fenwick,=20
nestled somewhere in the French Alps, declaring war on the U.S. ( in=20
order to get reparations to help with its slumping economy) is as=20
relevant today as when it first appeared.  Wibberley=92s work is a=20
satirical look at the Marshall Plan, in which the U.S. poured money=20
into countries, which were defeated  enemies of war (like Germany,=20
Italy, and Japan during World War ll), in order to help rebuild them. =20=

The result was that these countries were in better shape after losing=20
the war and the U.S. had transformed former foes into allies.
=09
The story is simple, Grand Fenwick relies on their sole export, Pinot=20
Grand Fenwick wine, for their economy. However, a California winemaker=20=

has produced a cheap knockoff, causing a drop in sales for the little=20
country. Faced with bankruptcy, the little Duchy decides to declare war=20=

on the U.S., because they know if they lose, the U.S. will pour=20
millions of dollars into foreign aid and rehabilitation. Using only=20
their traditional, medieval  longbow, the Duchess of Grand Fenwick=20
sends the troops to attack New York City in broad daylight, certain=20
they will be captured immediately.  What she does not count on is that=20=

her commander in chief of the expeditionary force, Tully Bascom, is=20
naive enough to think they have a chance to win the war.  By a freak=20
stroke of luck, Tully succeeds in capturing a Columbia University=20
professor who has been secretly working for the military and just=20
invented the newest, most powerful weapon yet, the Q-Bomb.  The=20
Fenwickian troops return home victorious, much to the disbelief and=20
disappointment of Gloriana and her Privy Council. Now the Fenwickians=20
must decide what to do with their unwanted victory and the very=20
unstable bomb.

Consider what is taking place in the world today and our play has great=20=

meaning. Not only is the U. S. is in the process of rebuilding another=20=

defeated enemy, Iraq, but across the ocean, the little country of North=20=

Korea has become (due to it=92s nuclear capabilities) a major world=20
power; like Grand Fenwick, it is a mouse that is now roaring.  We can=20
only hope that all the countries with weapons of destruction will=20
consider them the way Tully and Grand Fenwick do by the end of the=20
play: as peace weapons to prevent non aggression in the world.

Assistant Director: Alexis Dick
Stage Manager: Megan Miller
Set Crewhead: Emily Brumenschenkel
Props Crewhead: Megan Mihok
Assistant Props: Jenny Kernohan
Sound Crewhead: Clay Barns
Costume Crewhead: Candance MacIntosh
Light Co-Crewhead: Dan Druga and Amanda Milks
Publicity Crewhead: Amber Lewandowski
Makeup Crewhead: Kaylin Major
House Co-Crewhead: Maggie Feliciano and Sara Gosses



contact: Valerie Farschman, Drama Sponsor
ffarsch at eriecoast.com
valerie_farschman at amherst.k12.oh.us

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<fontfamily><param>Palatino</param>MLS Theatre Company of Amherst
Steele High School presents

<bold><italic>The Mouse That Roared

</italic></bold>by Leonard Wibberley

November 10, 11, 12, and 18, 19

7:30 p.m.

Amherst Steele High School Cafetorium

Adults $5

Students $3

Thespians $2

<bold>Senior Citizens Free

</bold>

Director: Valerie Farschman

Technical Director: Pat Sanders


It is fitting that the MLS Theatre Company produces <bold><italic>The
Mouse That Roared</italic></bold>, by Leonard Wibberley, which marks
it=92s 50th anniversary this year. =20


The work<bold><italic> </italic></bold>first came out as =93The Day New
York Was Invaded=94, a serialized story in <bold><italic>The Saturday
Evening Post </italic></bold>from December 1954-January 1955. It was
published in February of 1955 as a novel, and in 1959 became a film,
starring Peter Sellers, who delightfully portrayed three different
characters.

=09

This story of a little country, the imaginary Duchy of Grand Fenwick,
nestled somewhere in the French Alps, declaring war on the U.S. ( in
order to get reparations to help with its slumping economy) is as
relevant today as when it first appeared.  Wibberley=92s work is a
satirical look at the Marshall Plan, in which the U.S. poured money
into countries, which were defeated  enemies of war (like Germany,
Italy, and Japan during World War ll), in order to help rebuild them.=20
The result was that these countries were in better shape after losing
the war and the U.S. had transformed former foes into allies.=20

=09

The story is simple, Grand Fenwick relies on their sole export, Pinot
Grand Fenwick wine, for their economy. However, a California winemaker
has produced a cheap knockoff, causing a drop in sales for the little
country. Faced with bankruptcy, the little Duchy decides to declare
war on the U.S., because they know if they lose, the U.S. will pour
millions of dollars into foreign aid and rehabilitation. Using only
their traditional, medieval  longbow, the Duchess of Grand Fenwick
sends the troops to attack New York City in broad daylight, certain
they will be captured immediately.  What she does not count on is that
her commander in chief of the expeditionary force, Tully Bascom, is
naive enough to think they have a chance to win the war.  By a freak
stroke of luck, Tully succeeds in capturing a Columbia University
professor who has been secretly working for the military and just
invented the newest, most powerful weapon yet, the Q-Bomb.  The
Fenwickian troops return home victorious, much to the disbelief and
disappointment of Gloriana and her Privy Council. Now the Fenwickians
must decide what to do with their unwanted victory and the very
unstable bomb. =20


Consider what is taking place in the world today and our play has
great meaning. Not only is the U. S. is in the process of rebuilding
another defeated enemy, Iraq, but across the ocean, the little country
of North Korea has become (due to it=92s nuclear capabilities) a major
world power; like Grand Fenwick, it is a mouse that is now roaring.=20
We can only hope that all the countries with weapons of destruction
will consider them the way Tully and Grand Fenwick do by the end of
the play: as peace weapons to prevent non aggression in the world.


Assistant Director: Alexis Dick

Stage Manager: Megan Miller

Set Crewhead: Emily Brumenschenkel

Props Crewhead: Megan Mihok

Assistant Props: Jenny Kernohan

Sound Crewhead: Clay Barns

Costume Crewhead: Candance MacIntosh

Light Co-Crewhead: Dan Druga and Amanda Milks

Publicity Crewhead: Amber Lewandowski

Makeup Crewhead: Kaylin Major

House Co-Crewhead: Maggie Feliciano and Sara Gosses


<bigger>

</bigger>

contact: Valerie Farschman, Drama Sponsor

ffarsch at eriecoast.com

valerie_farschman at amherst.k12.oh.us

</fontfamily>=

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