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The Pine Tree High School Theater Department performed its UIL One Act play, Caucasian Chalk Circle by Bertoit Brect for the public at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22nd in the Pine Tree High School Theater.
The Caucasian Chalk Circle begins in a Caucasian City ruled by a Governor. The Governor has just had a child, Michael, and his wife is incredibly jealous of the attention that he gives to his son. The Governor's brother, the Fat Prince, stages an insurrection on Easter Sunday. He kills the Governor and forces the Governor's wife to flee. In her haste, she leaves behind her child. Many others flee as well.
Grusha, a kitchen maid, becomes engaged to a soldier named Simon. Soon thereafter, during the coup, she has Michael handed to her. She hides the child from the Fat Prince and his soldiers, thereby saving the child's life. She then takes Michael with her and flees the city. After spending most of her money and risking her life for the child, she arrives at her brother's house. He allows her to live there over the winter.
When spring arrives, Grusha's brother forces her to marry a "dying" man from across the mountain. They hold a wedding, but during the reception the guests learn that the war is over and that the soldiers have returned. The "dying" man, Jussup, realizes that he can no longer be drafted into the war. He miraculously recovers and throws all the guests out of the house. Grusha, now stuck with a husband she did not want, is forced to become a good wife to him.
One day Simon returns and learns that she is married. He is even more upset when he sees Michael, whom he thinks is Grusha's child. Some soldiers soon arrive and take Michael away from her, claiming that Michael belongs to the Governor's wife. Grusha follows them back to the city.
Azdak is the drunk who has been put in charge of hearing the case of Grusha and the child. The Governor's wife wants Michael back because without Michael she cannot take over the former Governor's estates. Grusha wants to keep the child, whom she has raised for the past two years. Even Simon goes to the trial and promises Grusha that he will support her.
After hearing all the arguments and learning about what Grusha has done to take care of the child, Azdak orders a Chalk Circle to be drawn. He places the child in the middle and orders the two women to pull, saying that whichever woman can pull the child out of the circle will get him. The Governor's wife pulls whereas Grusha lets go. Azdak orders them to do it again, and again Grusha lets go. Azdak then gives Michael to Grusha and orders the Governor's wife to leave. He confiscates Michael's estates and makes them into public gardens. His last act is to divorce Grusha, thereby allowing her to marry Simon.
Cast members include Melanie Sullivan as Singer; Taryn Parker as Grusha; Brett Garrett as Soldier/Corporal/Biggest Boy/Azdak; Will Morgan as Simon/Man; Tiffany Ford as Governor’s Wife/Peasant Woman/Guest; Austin Witherspoon as Fat Prince/Lawyer; Clay McBride as Adjutant/Jussup/Shauwa and Josh Nugent as Governor/Lavrenti/Old Man.
Additional cast members are Mackenzie Dunn as Beggar/Servant/Older Woman/Guest/ Old Woman; Anna Walker as Beggar/Servant/young Woman/Aniko; Julie Whitehead as Beggar/Servant/Cook/Merchant Woman/Jussup’s Mother; Jessica Livesey as Beggar/Servant/Guest/Michael; Lauren Brazell as Maro; Kenney Manning as Ironshirt; and Emily Worthington as Beggar/Servant/Groom/ Girl.
Kayleigh Mayhall, Kristen Moseley, Jerica Sandifer and Theresa Pisano are the crew members.
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