By Melanie Patterson

The North Jefferson News



Melodie Duke had never directed a play. But she didn’t let that tiny detail stop her from directing the latest production at Mortimer Jordan High School.

Forty students — 25 in the cast and 15 techs — took part in Little Women Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the school’s old gym.

Duke, an English teacher, stepped up to direct the play because Mortimer Jordan is currently without a drama teacher.

The school had to drop the drama teacher position in order to add another math teacher to the faculty for academic reasons.

“It was a good reason, a positive reason,” Duke said.

Julie Meadows was the theater arts instructor last year, with Darrel Revel heading up the theater program prior to Meadows.

On Thursday during the final dress rehearsal before the real thing, there was no sign that Duke was a first-time director.

She shouted orders and set the stage like a pro.

Duke directed the techs, led by junior Kat Gillian, regarding the spotlight; told actors how to exit the stage without causing a distraction; and instructed them to increase their volume or slow down their speech.

“I was very nervous about it,” she said. “You get used to looking at it day after day. I was afraid I was just looking at something I was used to.”

But Duke said she was “very happy” with the final product.

“Those kids are the most professional I’ve ever worked with,” she said. “We got so many good reviews from people. We just got raves.”

On Friday night, the actors had to deal with noise created by a thunderstorm. And on Saturday, there was competition with the Alabama football game.

But Duke said all performances were packed.

Mortimer Jordan High School principal Barbara Snider was also thrilled with the play.

“It was wonderful,” Snider said. “(Duke) came in and did her first production. She added the needed structure that the kids needed.”

Snider was impressed with the students’ performances as well as Duke’s.

“The kids worked so hard,” Snider said. “They put on a play you just wouldn’t believe. Every single one of them were so well prepared. I would say it’s one of our best plays ever put on here.”

Snider said she appreciated the students’ self-motivation.

“Then with Mrs. Duke’s guidance, it was such a wonderful production,” she said.

Duke has now set her sights on the next production.

She said the next project for the theater department will be Beauty and the Beast, which will be performed at North Jefferson Middle School because it has more space.