THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 9, 1995 TAG: 9503080214
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: GATESVILLE, N.C. LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
Barbara Toti is bringing ``The Arkansaw Bear'' to life because it is about death - a hit-home theme for the Gates County High School drama instructor who lost three grandparents last year.
Her Playmakers group will offer the play, a mix of joy and sadness, this weekend in the school auditorium.
It's about the world's greatest dancing bear, who helps a granddaughter accept her grandfather's death, Toti said.
The class means a lot to her - juniors and seniors who have been with her since the 5th grade. ``They're really good kids,'' Toti said. ``They're sensitive.''
She needs that kind of feeling for this production.
``Last year, my three remaining grandparents all passed away,'' Toti said. ``One grandmother died the day I found I was pregnant. Her husband died Christmas Eve. My other grandmother died when my baby was 2 weeks old. The play shows that you can't fight death or run away from it.''
The Playmakers are the Gates County High School Theatre III Class, made up of Drama Club members who started working with Toti when she came to the area in 1987.
``It seems we've been together always,'' she said. ``The kids come to my house. They want to work.''
Two students who graduated last year are now studying drama in college. Not all of her players are interested in acting as a profession, but all of them enjoy it as a hobby.
Heather Hinton, a 17-year-old senior from Sunbury: ``I expect to minor in drama at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington. I like being in the spotlight. I prefer comedy because I like doing the fun stuff.''
Travis Riddick, an 18-year-old senior from Sunbury: ``Acting's not my ambition, but it's fun and lets you be yourself.''
Mary Beth Hudgins, a 16-year-old junior from Eure: ``I was house manager for two of the school's dinner theaters. `The Arkansaw Bear' is my first time on stage. It's a lot of fun. I wish I'd done it sooner.''
Denise Gaylor, a 16-year-old junior from Gatesville: ``Mrs. Toti is always doing something new. I've been in all the plays. I like both comedy and drama. This gives me something to do after school.''
Robin Luther, an 18-year-old senior from Hobbsville: ``I've been in a couple plays. Sometimes I just help. It's fun.''
Tara Owney, a 16-year-old junior from Gatesville: ``It's fun to be around everybody. You get to be good friends with the people in the plays, do a lot of things with them. This is our group of friends. If I'm not on stage, I'm backstage. Each play - I try to make a whole new character.''
Angie Harrell, a 16-year-old junior from Eure: ``I want to major in acting or directing at the University of North Carolina in Wilmington. I prefer acting. I like being in front of the audience. I like any role or character with moral values.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by FRANK ROBERTS
Mary Beth Hudgins, left, as the ringmaster, watches over Heather
Hinton, as the world's greatest dancing bear, in ``Arkansaw Bear.''
Robin Luther, kneeling, plays a mime.
by CNB