The Akwesasne Library Presents
"The Great Ball Game"
By EMILY TARBELL
The Akwesasne Library's Summer
Theatre Group, under the inspired
direction of Marita Thompson, presented 'The Great Ball Game" to
an appreciative audience on
Thursday, August 15. The story is
based on the Native legend, which
is told and retold in the Northeast,
the Southwest and the Plains
regions.
The Summer 'vatre Group began
Kaili LaFrance, as the bat
swoops around between the
animals and the birds.
with an interest meeting on June
26. The children had a discussion
about what play to perform and
they decided on 'The Great Ball
Game" because it had animals and
birds, it was short, and it had both
speaking and non-speaking roles. It
could also be performed outside if
the weather permitted. Twiceweekly meetings and rehearsals
began on July 17 with an average
of 7 children at each rehearsal.
The performers learned quickly the
importance of rehearsal, they
learned to project their voices so
everyone could hear, they learned
to work together, and they learned
to be creative in making their own
bird and animal masks.
The legend "The Great Ball Game"
tells the story about an argument
between the animals and the birds.
The animals insisted they were better than the birds because they, the
animals, had teeth. The birds insisted that THEY were better because
they had wings. And so they agreed
to settle the argument with a ball
game, from which we got our
lacrosse game. But when they
made up the teams, one creature
was left out: the Bat. They didn't
know what to do with him because
he had BOTH wings and teeth. The
story has a great finish and can be
found in the book The Great Ball
Game as retold by Joseph Bruchac
which is available at the
Akwesasne Library.
We would like to thank our summer performers who came faithfully each and every week to
rehearsals. Also, we thank those
last-minute participants who
quickly learned their lines and
roles. A special thanks goes to
Demetri LaFrance who, with his
strong, clear voice, provided the
narration which held the story
together. WV unuld also like to
applaud Karina White as the Bear,
Kaitlyn Graffis as the Fox,
Danielle Mitchell as the Deer,
Shaydi Oakes as the Rabbit, Kaili
LaFrance as the Bat, Alyssa Lazore
as the Crane, Sarah Tarbell as the
Bluebird, Chantelle Leaf as the
Blackbird and Kanientatiesa
LaFrance as the Crow.
The performers enjoyed pizza and
wings before the show and refreshments were provided to the audience after the show. It was a gala
night and we hope to do it again
next summer!
Karina White as the bear and Danielle Mitchell as the deer send
the bat, Kaili LaFrance, back to the birds.
Boys 5 Qrf« Qv\> Presents:
<J
Team Up for a
Ride to
Remember
Ages 14 to
Senior Years
le*ns?:OO-12:00
^usir 5 Llgltfs l>y H* B& ^ Cta|>
August 28th in Akwesasne
Various starting times
throughout the morning.
30-seat bicyde
All it takes is a little legwork.
Local Teams:
Health Nuts (Kanonhwatsherkio)
CKON Radio Flyers
South of the Border (St. Regis Mohawk Health Services)
Legal Eagles (MCA Police Service)
Akwesasne Headstart
Grand Prize... 29 Bikes for 29 Riders!
Teams that raise $3000 will be entered into Grand Prize
Draw. For every $1000 raised after that, your team
will be entered again. Chance for a Mountain Bike
for every team member who brings
the minimum $50 or more in donation.
Draw will occur on October 4, 2002.
Route starts at Kanatakon School/
through Johnson Road and ending
at Kanatakon School.
Stress test at the school for workers.
Show your support by sponsoring
one of the team members.
HEART
AND STROKE
KXJN0W1QN
©ring Year QIow ^ear!!!
The Akwesasne Boys & Qirls Club is seeking happy, energetic,
creative, motivated and committed volunteers who are
"Children at Heart"
'd like help w i t h : \
tye Cordially invite you \
\
to our
. \
\
\
\ gHAMD (mMNtg!
\
\
\
\
August ?oT 2op?
Canteen
Tutoring '
Maintenance
BookClub
Oub Store
Recreation & Activies
Computer Center
Fundraising Events
Chaperoning
Artists/Dancers
Tota Visits
/
|pi|P!:||iidian Time Vol. 2WO3
io:ooam
to2:oojm
/ Everyone's 'Wefcome!
1
/
/ Tetfyour NeighBors
/
and bring aJrierufiUW! /