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Bishop Eustace Proudly Presents Bye Bye Birdie

On April 11, 12, and 13, Bishop Eustace presented their annual spring musical with this year's production of Bye Bye Birdie.  Approximately 70 members of the school community participated in the cast, orchestra, and crew.

The musical revolves around the story of Conrad Birdie, a pop star in the 1950s, being drafted into the Army.  The agent for Conrad, Albert Peterson, is in a tizzy because the only star for his record company was drafted.  His secretary, Rosie, has an idea to save Albert's company, send Conrad to kiss a member of Conrad's fan club, and then release the resulting record.  Success is almost guaranteed for the record to be a hit.  The girl that is chosen to receive the kiss is Kim McAffee of Sweet Apple, Ohio.

Rosie and Albert make plans for the kiss to happen on the Ed Sullivan Show.  However, the kiss never happens because the disgruntled boyfriend of Kim, Hugo Peabody, knocks Conrad unconscious before the kiss takes place.  At the same time, Rosie is upset with Albert because he keeps insisting that he is not yet ready to marry her.

After Conrad regains consciousness, Kim and he go to the Ice House of Sweet Apple, making Kim's parents upset because she is only 15.  Once it is discovered where Conrad and Kim were, Kim's father has Conrad arrested.  Albert pays his bail and puts him on a train in the middle of the night so he will not be tortured any more by the people of Sweet Apple.  After his experiences there, he considers going into the Army a treat.

 The play concludes with Albert promising to take a teaching job in Pumpkin Falls, Iowa.  He wants Rosie to join him because they prefer the applicant to be married.

(Article & Photos :  Edward Ford)