GENTRY — There was no need to travel to a distant theater to see an entertaining performance and fine actors. Both were here on Friday night when the Gentry High School drama team performed “Rapunzel Uncut” and “Jack vs. Jill” in the high school auditorium.

The two plays were based on the familiar children's fairy tales but with humorous twists which kept the audience laughing as the student performers showcased their talents on the stage and brought the stories to life.

“Rapunzel Uncut” by Mariah Everman revealed parts of the old fairy tale seldom if ever heard, including an account of how Rapunzel ended up locked in a tower by a witch, though there was a question over which witch it was. And in “Jack vs. Jill” by Dustin Robert Blakeman, the audience served as jurors in a mock lawsuit and trial with Jill suing Jack for pain and suffering caused by Jack allegedly pushing Jill down the hill - an account which challenges the accuracy of the better known account recorded by Mother Goose.

Both performers and audience enjoyed the public showing- students had opportunity to see the plays earlier in the day.

The performance was directed by drama teacher Daren Ward. Performers were Kari Mathes, Jessica James, Dylan Pollard, Evan Reed, Ashley Beach, Katy Porter, Anthony Gil, Blake Calkins, Linda Fitzmaurice, Jordan Byrd, Christian Sheppard, Tyler Beck, Angelique Walker, Amanda Tucker, Amberly Horton, Sarah Barnes, Jurnee West, Morgan Norris, Caleb Austad, Peter Phakonekham, Brittany Green, Kelsea Whitten, Kim Upton, Cassidy Brown, Allison Fincher, Makayla Wilks, Ashlyn Serna, Amber Baughman, Destiny Thomas and Jasmin Avina.

News, Pages 1 on 05/05/2010