The Mail-Journal, Volume 29, Number 21, Milford, Kosciusko County, 4 July 1990 — Page 13

Summer

The Mikado is a

, By JEANNE GARDINER . Delightful, delicious, funny, colorful and fast-paced. Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mikado as directed by Bob Decker at the Enchanted Hills Playhouse is a "must see!" With true British humor, Gilbert and Sullivan’s operetta handles love, politics, absolute power and pure humanness with a tongue in cheek approach. The lyrics are created for rapid fire delivery —a difficult feat to spit out the rhyme and still understand the reason. However, the EHP cast is fully capable of animated and clear musical delivery. , The Mikado (himself) is the absolute ruler of Japan. (Did we mention that the setting is Japan?) The story unfolds in a Japanese city and involves a “wandering minstrel” (NankiPoo) who has returned to claim the girl he loves (Yum-Yum), but finds that she is to be married that day to her guardian (Ko-Ko). Ko-Ko, who has been elevated by the Mikado to the rank of Lord High Executioner, has just learned that the Mikado has noticed that there have been no executions in town since Ko-Ko took over the position. The word has come down that someone must be beheaded — or the executioner will lose his. Ko-Ko immediately delegates the opportunity of being executed to “the grand” Pooh-Bah, who embodies just about every political position in town — chief constable, judge, solicitor . . . who relishes the glory of his multiple positions, and invites bribes to obtain satisfactory decisions. Diplomat that he is, PoohBah quickly returns the responsibilities to Ko-Ko by announcing that he simply can’t bring himself to take on one more honor. Meanwhile, Nanki-Poo, distraught over the loss of his love, decides to kill himself but is stopped by Ko-Ko, who lectures him on suicide and that it is a

Jet ski accident on Tippy

Steve McGarvey, 24, Leesburg, sustained head injuries in an accident Saturday night on Lake Tippecanoe. He was taken to Kosciusko Community Hospital and later released. McGarvey and Scott Tynan, 24, Indianapolis, were heading across the lake on a jet ski and a wet bike, when McGarvey hit a wave, throwing him from his jet ski and into the path of Tynan's wet bike. McGarvey was knocked unconscious and was pulled from the water by Tynan. Conservation Officer John Sullivan was called to investigate the accident. Asthma relief Relief of bronchoconstriction may be taking an important step forward with the help of an antagonist for the arachidonic acid metabolite, leukotriene D 4 (LTD 4 When given in combination with a standard bronchodilator, the substance actually improves airway function for patients with asthma. — Hook's Health Tip Bulletin

Fireworks at Syracuse Park on July 4 A number of events are slated to take place at Lakeside Park in Syracuse on Wednesday, July 4. Among the activities will be square dancing by the Heart of Lakes club, a Lakes Area Community Band concert at 8 p.m. and the fire works at 9:45 p.m.

Car hits back of AMC

Syracuse Police investigated the following accident during the past week: Two-vehicles collided at SR 13 and Pickwick Road on Friday, June 29, at 6:03 p.m Joyce Grinn, 32, Milford, was following a 1981 AMC in her 1984 Pontiac Fiero, when the AMC began to stop. Grinn stated when she started to stop she pushed the clutch instead of the brake and did not hit the brake in time to avoid hitting the rear of the AMC. The AMC was driven by Roseta M. Belin, 28, Syracuse. Damage was estimated up to 52.500 to Grinn’s vehicle and up to SI,OOO to Belin's vehicle.

capital crime punishable by execution. Ah, the light dawns. Here is a willing substitute. To better sell the idea, Ko-Ko offers to let Nanki-Poo marry Yum-Yum and enjoy connubial bliss for one month, at which time he will submit himself to a marvelous ceremony, followed by the execution — topped off with fireworks after the deed is done (and which Nanki-Poo will, of course, never see). Ko-Ko reveals that he has never killed anything and can't kill anything — ndt even a bug. In tears he realizes that he must find another solution. Os course, Pooh-Bah can confirm the death in writing even though none took place. That should be acceptable. But wait, the Mikado has arrived and demands to hear about the execution. Ko-ko, backed up by Pooh-Bah and Pitti-Sing (of whom Ko-Ko is also guardian), delivers an illustrated fabrication of just how the execution was performed and how the victim behaved. The Mikado has brought with him his scorned daughter-in-law

Sm i th/Walbridge

Last summer for camp

By JENNIFER WOODWARD Staff Writer

It all began in 1949 and this summer it will finally draw to a close. Smith-Walbridge Camp

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- FIRST CAMPER — Hilda Mauldin Boyette of Kannapolis, North Carolina, was the first camper at Smith-Walbridge Camp in 1949. Merle and Margaret Smith, owners of the camp, remember Hilda fondly. It seems that her father drove her and a friend all the way to Syracuse for the week long camp and was ready to take her back after seeing the small facilities. However, Hilda begged to stay and thus was the beginning of Smith-Walbridge Camp.

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TA-DAA!!! — Practice makes perfect, that’s the motto at SmithWalbridge Camp. The students who attend will participate in a variety of private lessons each day and practice approximately six hours a day. The people of Smith-Walbridge take pride in hard work and quality instruction. The counselors at Smith-Walbridge have been recognized nationally for their endeavors. (Photo by Jennifer Woodward)

elect, Katisha, a very witchytype who is the cause of the Mikado’s son’s taking off and leaving no forwarding address. Oops! Reading the, X> c t> m ’s name on the fabricated report of the execution, the Mikado discovers that it was his son, Nanki-Poo. No problem, he understands that mistakes can be made — but, now what was that rule about executing those who caused the death of the Mikado’s son? Nanki-Poo and Yum-Yum come forward to relieve the situation, but now find that because he married someone other than his original intended, he must be executed and his wife buried alive. The only way out of the turmoil is for someone to marry Katisha and take the heat off of NankiPoo. But who? Ko-ko agrees to press his case and pours out his heart to her (pausing now and then to read the “script" that was prepared for him). Katisha accepts Ko-Ko’s proposal. That’s the story, in a nutshell (or Jrteficup, as the case may be).

will officially close on August 24, thus ending a long standing tradition of quality camping. The camp was founded by Merle Smith and his wife, Margaret. The Smiths began the camp after a student spent the

'must see'

But then we must add the colorful kimonos (created by Sharon O’Boyle and Eric Herr), gigantic fans that snap open and shut as called for, simple but excellent set design done by Matthew Dollar, delightful choregraphy by Sari Ferraro, and great support music by director Donald Hopkinson, Jr. and the EHP orchestra. The stage has been set — now for the part that brings everything to LIFE - the actors and actresses who performed this hilarious operetta. Nanki-Poo was well played by Kevin Long; Yum-Yum by Gena Groppel; Sara Rene Martin is a joy as Pitti-Sing; Alison Streeter plays Peep-Bo; Julie Webster adds just the right touch as Katisha; and the wonderful voice of John Payonk comes through as the Mikado of Japan. Ken Baker creates a strong stage presence as Pish-Tush, wit'n just the right sense of comedy. Tom Fagan’s Pooh-Bah is outstanding — he truly seems to enjoy the role.

summer with them learning various twirling techniques. They decided that if one student was willing to pay and learn for the summer, maybe other students would also. Their assumptions were correct. The following summer they began taking in more and more students and teaching the art of baton twirling. The next year, 1951, George and Lois Walbridge joined the Smiths and new facilities were added and more campers came. The twirling camp was the first and only facility in the country that catered solely to the needs of the baton twirler. The years that followed many other camps were added including marching band, drum majors, majorettes, cheerleading, winter guard, golf and soccer. Students and counselors have traveled to the Syracuse camp from such far away places as Canada, Mexico, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany, Japan, Australia, Belgium, France, and every state in the union. The reputation of SmithWalbridge is something that every camp would be proud of. Many campers return each year as a camper or even a counselor or instructor. Smith-Walbridge has been widely copied by many other camps. As Smith explains, they were the first in many of the camps, many of their campers or counselors have gone out on their own and created their very own camp similar to SmithWalbridge. “It’s amazing how few people around here know the national recognition we’ve received and to what extent.” Smith-Walbridge has found it to be very difficult to compete against many of the camps throughout the country. As Gary Smith explains, “The cost of maintenance and insurance is so high, that we just can t compete.” Gary is the son of Merle and Margaret and is presently the director of the camp and band director of the University of Illinois during the school year. Many times junior high and high school students prefer attending a university campus program rather than a camp such as Smith-Walbridge. As Gary points out such a program is more social and glamourous compared to small scale camps. “Students today have different attitudes, they want nicer things."He explains that the younger children enjoy Smith-Walbridge, they work real hard because there is more intensity and not as much distraction. The Smiths find it very hard to say good-bye to over 40 years of quality camping, “You develop emotional and sentimental ties. It’s a very strong tradition.” Gary adds, “It’s hard for a little guy to make it in a small com pany. If quality was a factor, we’d be busting at the seams. ” The last official day of the camp will conclude with the closing of the sale on August 24. An auction will sell off many of the camp's equipment on September 1. Dale Showalter, Syracuse, has purchased the 50-acre band camp. The Smiths are happy with the purchase and feel that Showalter will do a good job with his plans for development Showalter plans to create a village of villas on the grounds. Thus the days of SmithWalbridge will soon draw to a close. However, the reflection of days gone by will eternally be remembered with a smile. The echoes of a whistle, the command, of a drill instructor, the song of laughter or the joy of success will forever be heard in the fields of Smith-Walbridge.

And we come to Ko-Ko. Brian Herriott is a multi-faceted talent. He can portray a handsome selfassured lead in one show, and turn around and be an outstanding, but loveable, buffoon in another — as in this case. He managed to change not only his appearance (through make-up and contorting his face), but also the way he carries himself and walks about. Never breaking character, he grimaced, raised his eyes to the ceiling, walked flatfooted and stiff-kneed, and spoke in a nasal, whiny tone. Truly wonderful! Songs. You may be as surprised as I to find that you recognize some of the music from this show — “A Wondering Minstrel, I,” “Three Little Maids From School Are We,” “The Flowers That Bloom in The Spring (tra-1a)... Voices. There is not a wimp in the cast. All have strong, marvelous singing ability! We close as we began — Delightful, colorful, fast-paced and funny — The Mikado is a show that must be a part of your summer memories from Lake Wawasee's summer stock theater, the Enchanted Hills Playhouse. It runs through Sunday, July 8. Don’t miss out!

Rev. Blake to speak Sunday at boat-in

Rev. Richard Bunnel of St. Andrews United Methodist Church will lead the worship at the Oakwood Park boat-in service this Sunday, July 8. Sunday's speaker Rev. Ron Blake of the Wawasee Community Church of the Nazarene will present the sermon entitled "Weeds in the Garden.”. The boat-in worship services are presented by the SyracuseWawasee Ministerial Association each Sunday at 8:30 a.m. through Sept. 2. The services last approx imately one-half hour.

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NOT OVER THERE! — Ronald McDonald and Milford youngsters went on a “Lion Hunt,” during the Milford Library’s summer reading program. Ronald McDonald performed magic tricks and told various stories during the program held at the Milford Community Building on Wednesday, June 27. (Photo by Jennifer Woodward)

Bass not hurt by muskies

While some fishermen claim Lake Webster’s largemouth bass population has been hurt by stocking muskies, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reports the 585-acre northern Indiana lake contains* good numbers and sizes of and says stocking muskies may actually improve bass fishing. » Based on weekly sampling from mid-April through midMay, DNR fisheries biologists estimate Lake Webster holds 8,000 adult largemouth bass, about 14 bass per surface acre. During the sampling, biologists caught 1,302 bass ranging up to 21.5 inches long. The majority of bass were eight to 12 inches long. On a per acre basis, Lake Webster has about twice as many bass as nearby Lake Tippecanoe. “Lake Webster always had a pretty good reputation for bass fishing," says Jed Pearson, DNR fisheries biologist. “Our figure show that it still does, even

Wed., July 4,1990 — THE MAIL-JOURNAL

though the lake also has a lot of muskies.” According to Pearson, 11,000 muskies have been stocked into Lake Webster since 1981. Some anglers are concerned muskies will hurt fishing for other species. "Lake Webster is loaded with small bluegills, a lot of big shad and other rough fish. They compete for food and space with young bass. We hope the muskies help the bass by feeding on these fish,” says Pearson. Many of the lake’s shad and other rough fish are too big for bass to eat. Without the muskies, they could overrun the lake and damage bass fishing. Several muskies are now up to four feet long But some fishermen are concerned the muskies are also eating bass. “No doubt a few bass have been eaten by muskies,” Pearson says, adding, “But local fishermen and taxidermists tell us large shad are their major

food item.” Biologists in other midwest states have studied the feeding habits of muskies. They found muskies prefer shad, shiners and other forage fish over bluegills and largemouth bass. “We don't see any signs muskies are hurting the bass population and since muskies have been in the Webster Lake for almost 10 years now, we don’t expect them to,” says Pearson. Nearly 83 percent of the bass in Lake Webster are less than 12 inches long. Pearson cites this high percentage of young bass as proof that bass reproduction and survival have not been affected by the muskies. The DNR plans to continue to monitor the impacts of muskies at Lake Webster. Since mid-April, the DNR has also conducted a fishing survey at Lake Webster, designed to estimate numbers and sizes of fish caught by anglers.

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