Kimball Area High School (KAHS) recently announced its 2004 entry into the Minnesota State High School League one-act play competition. This year Kimball will present the play The Street of Good Friends written by Owen G. Arno and produced by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc. The play takes place in the 1920s. Three school teachers decided to spend their summer touring Europe. They arrive in a small Italian town and are escorted to their less-than-ideal room by the local innkeeper’s helper (Maren Kolb) where they are stranded after their bus has broken down. But while the adventuresome Abigail (Vanessa Gillman) and shy Grace (Jen Schefers) are philosophic about the situation, the finicky Hester (Jesi Mancini) has spoiled their fun from the beginning with her whining. Abigail persuades the somewhat more reticent Grace to take a walk with her around town, but Hester grumpily remains behind. When the two women return several hours later, Hester immediately senses that something outrageous has happened to them. At first they have no intention of giving Hester an account of their evening, but Hester insists, and Abigail and Grace giddily relate their story. Unwittingly, it seems, the two women wandered onto a lovely and friendly little street, appropriately named Via Boncampagni (which translates “The Street of Good Friends”) when suddenly they were arrested. It appears that the street is a street “for bad girls.” When brought before the judge they were shocked by the news that the fine was 1,000 lire for any woman found on the street without a license for “bad girlishness.” But then, when the teachers created a fuss over the large sum of money involved, the judge and the policeman came up with a happier suggestion. The play unfolds to a hilarious conclusion. The production crew consists of Angie Garding (student director), Cole Loewen (lighting) and Carl Stein (stage crew). The play is directed by Valery Hansen. Set pieces were designed by Ken Rothstein. Kimball performs in competition on Saturday, Jan. 31, at Paynesville. A public performance of The Street of Good Friends will be at the KAHS Cafetorium at 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 30, before the girls’ basketball game. The play runs approximately 25-30 minutes. Everyone is invited to attend. Admission is free.
