PHS Presents Drama Presents Steinbeck’s 'The Pearl'

This weekend the  Drama program will present two performances of John Steinbeck's The Pearl, based on the ancient legend of The Pearl of the World. 

The shows take place at the Orange Auditorium on the PHS West Campus at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 20 and Saturday, April 21.

Kino (played by Jiovanni Maestrale), a poor Mexican pearl diver who is young and strong,lives in a small town with his wife Juana (Victoria Pedretti), and their baby son, Coyotito.

When Coyotito is stung by a scorpion and is slowly dying from the poison, Kino must find a way to pay the town doctor, an extremely prejudiced settler, to cure Kino's son. When Kino discovers an enormous pearl, he is ready to sell it to pay the doctor and give his son an education when he grows up. But many forces come into play as one after another of his neighbors find ways to take advantage of Kino's good fortune.

The play develops around the eternal struggle between one family's good fortune and those who would deprive them of it out of greed, envy or jealousy. Mrs. Mary Kay Everett, who has been directing at Pennsbury for 40 years, selected The Pearl for the spring show because, as she puts it, "the story, about a poor husband and wife who get what they have always believed they wanted and have their lives changed in unexpected ways, tells a universal parable which is valid in any age. It also has a cast of over 30 students, with many good parts allowing for more actors to experience the joy of making theater. There will be as many freshman actors experiencing their first high school drama as seniors for whom it will be their last." Danny Gleason, Rachel Baumgarten, Mackenzie Fuller, and Julia Sismour play the town beggars as the chorus in the drama. The cast includes  Jiovanni Maestrale as Kino, Victoria Pedretti as Juana, Andrew Walker as Kino's brother Juan, Greg Krum as the racist doctor, Portland Thomas, Jeanie Davey,  Brandon DiChirrico, Will Bomentre, Zach Gibson, Chris McHugh, Tom Sawyer,and David Frank, as well as a dozen actors who play various villagers.

"This show will delight your senses, nourish your soul and stimulate your mind," said Mike Pedretti, who is the president of the Pennsbury Drama Parents, a group that supports the efforts of the drama program. Pennsbury Drama has been an important part of thousands of students" development for many decades.

Students from Pennsbury's program have performed with distinction at regional, state and national thespian festivals. Many drama alumni are working in the professional theater, including television and movie stars Richard Kind '74 and Robb Curtis Brown '75.

Recently, Christy Altomare '04 opened in the off-Broadway production of Carrie and Marla (Weiner) Mindelle '05 has been playing Sister Mary Robert in Sister Act on Broadway for the past year. John Steinbeck's The Pearl, adapted for the stage by Warren Frost and directed by Mary Kay Everett, will be presented in the Orange Auditorium at PHS West, which is located at 608 South Olds Boulevard in Fairless Hills. Tickets will be available at the door for $5 each. Parking is free.