PCA’s 2016 Katie Bell Jarriel Dinner Theater Presented War Letters
On Tuesday, November 1, Pinewood Christian Academy’s one act cast and crew performed War Letters by J. Robert Wilkins for their debut performance. Tickets were sold to 166 patrons who enjoyed a delicious dinner prepared by Ms. Cathy Willet with cupcakes prepared by Grace Gordon, a sophomore, and an amazing production presented by our one-act drama team.
The actors were superb and so were their costumes. Director, April Williams, was the mastermind behind the ensemble’s costume design, and Jesse Rogers, a sophomore, and his family helped tremendously by providing many of the military uniforms and props. Mrs. Williams, who was emotionally connected to the script through her father’s service in the military, was adamant on being as authentic as possible in respect to all who have served our country.
As the show began, Pinewood’s chorus performed the national anthem to open for the production. A father, named Jack (Christian Strickland), goes off to war for six months, leaving behind his wife, Karen (Allison Harvey), a daughter, Mary (Milligan Williams), and his mother, Lillian (Elizabeth McCooey). Their only connection with the man they love is via letters. Through this correspondence, the audience becomes aware of their fears, their hopes, their anticipation, and ultimately their grief. The play also tells about Jack’s father, Lloyd (Zac Kumpula), portraying how he and Lillian met, when he left for war, and how he never returned home. Sadly, Jack suffers from the same fate as his father and is killed not long before he is due home. The final scene depicts Jack’s funeral service, complete with a twenty-one gun salute and “Taps”, played by Aaron Lyons.
Throughout the play, scenes like Lillian sending Lloyd to war, Jack in briefing sessions, and ultimately his final battle where he is killed were depicted in tableaus. These tableaus were not originally in the script, but Mrs. April created them to further enhance the play so that the audience was able to better connect with the story by being able to see more aspects of the family and Jack’s life.
Senior actors and crew were honored with a certificate for participating in one-act and a rose for their parents. Afterwards, the seniors gave directors Mrs. Williams, Mrs. Sarah Nicholson, Mrs. Misty Harvey gifts for all of their hard work.
The one act team was well-prepared for their region competition the following week where they competed at Southeastern Technical College in Vidalia, GA. The one act team did an outstanding job earning them the third place trophy. Milligan Williams, PCA junior and daughter of Phillip and Bronwyn Williams, was awarded Outstanding Actress for her portrayal of Mary in Pinewood’s one act production.
By: Katie Bell & Kylie Brockman, seniors
& Grace Gordon, sophomore
