**THE PORT TOWNSEND HIGH SCHOOL DRAMA DEPARTMENT** is as Real as it gets....... About this time last year, I ran into a young woman selling student-produced postcards at the Saturday morning Port Townsend Farmer's Market. She was from the high school's drama club. I bought a few cards and had a nice chat with her . "You are from SAN FRANCISCO??? You are sooo lucky....." I promised that I'd come to the high school play in May 2010. And I did. "OLIVER TWIST YOU CAN'T DO THIS, SO WHAT"S THE USE OF TRYING???" You just haven't seen a great London play until you've seen "OLIVER!" *performed live... *by high schoolers... * in a high school auditorium... *in Port Townsend,WA... * overlooking the mountains, Victorian houses, clipper ships, and forests of the Olympic Peninsula. Trust me on this, you just can't do it....so what's the use of trying???? "Oliver!" was performed by graduating seniors Mikaela Euro and Paul Krabill. (They should be well on their way through college, even as I write this. ) Raven Pope made a convincingly puckish Artful Dodger, and Kellyn Traenkenschuh (who also was a graduating senior) choreographed many of the numbers in the show. It was stupendous. The parents, staff and kids of Port Townsend High are to be commended for putting together a show that I might have paid mega-bucks for had it been in London. Or in San Francisco, my home turf. $5.00 for admission. I'm a senior citizen. (It would have been $10 for the rest of you.) Should you be within voting distance of the Port Townsend School District, go ahead and bite the bullet...Give 'em your vote! If you are farther away, give 'em a hand! Or at least give your jewelry a jingle... And if you are in London or San Francisco (and you know who you are.).......give the kids a look-see when they get to your stage. And do save Fagin, The Artful Dodger and the "Boys of the Thieves Den" the trouble....just turn over your wallets at the door. These actors will put your money to good use. These kids are good...really good. They deserve your money and your time. Whistling as she exits stage left...."You've got to pick a pocket or two......".......... read more

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