Geneva High School Drama Club presents "Flowers for Algernon," the heartbreaking story of a young man with an IQ of 68 who undergoes experimental surgery to increase his intelligence to genius levels.
Charlie Gordon (Adrian Cowles), a mentally challenged bakery worker, is given the opportunity of a lifetime. A promising experimental operation has greatly increased the intelligence of a laboratory mouse named Algernon, and the creators of the radical new surgery (Allison Chapin and Giorgi Bekauri) are anxious to proceed with human testing. As Charlie’s mental capacity increases, his life begins to change. He must deal with the emotions of his long forgotten past, his rapidly increasing intelligence, and his growing love for teacher Alice Kinnian (Grace Pilet). As Charlie approaches the peak of his brilliance, Algernon shows frightening symptoms of regression. The story becomes a race against time in which Charlie tries to keep his new intelligence long enough to save himself and thus continue what he and Alice have found. This is a different kind of play: poignant, romantic, funny and tragic, but with hope of man’s indomitable spirit.
Also featured are Jonathan Garcia and Mariami Bekauri as Charlie’s parents, Jonan Pilet and Noah Pitifer as younger versions of Charlie, Abigail Milliman and Rebecca Caster as Charlie’s sister Norma at different ages, Josh Jones as Burt, a grad student in Charlie’s lab, Gloria Merced as Mrs. Donner, Charlie’s boss at the bakery, and Kiley Conklin as Charlie’s landlady, Mrs. Mooney.
The cast is rounded out with Charlotte Adams Brooks, Hailee Holloman, Zach Jones, Kat McCorkle, Moriah Murphy, Sierra Olschewske, Michael Rosa and Annie Wilsey.
Adapted for the stage by David Rogers from the novel by Daniel Keyes.
The final dress rehearsal at 7:30 on November 6th will be open to the public. In lieu of tickets, the cast requests that patrons attending this performance bring canned or bagged pet food or litter to be donated to the Beverly Animal Shelter.
Performed in the round with the audience on stage, seating is extremely limited. Tickets go on sale Monday, Oct. 20 in Geneva at Area Records & Music, the Smith Opera House, the high school office during school hours, or by calling 315-781-5483.
The production is directed by Kevin Schoonover. Mary Schoonover is the stage manager and Bruce Purdy is the technical director/lighting designer.
