On The Mark: Song and comedy brighten winter days in Cromwell

For two weeks in a row, classmates, parents, grandparents, siblings, and community members were treated to marvelous song — alone and with others — and a sparkling One Act Play at the Cromwell-Wright School.

On Feb. 2, a variety show, dubbed “February,” filled the auditorium with songs. Music teacher MaryRose Varo, in a change of approach, allowed the students to choose the songs they most wanted to sing. Amusingly, they mostly concerned the joys and travails of young love.

The trio of Kieriahna Goodin, Haylee McCuskey and Kaylee Smith sang in beautiful harmony on “I Can’t Help Falling in Love with You.” Gracie Foley, Aurora Gervais and Grace Swenson collaborated on “Willow.” Alaina Lind, Andrea Pocernich and Chandell Warner harmonized on “Like I’m Gonna Lose You.” Aurora Gervais soloed in “’Til Forever Falls Apart,” and “By Your Side,” the latter which she composed. I especially loved the duet Aurora sang with Nick Switzer, “Little Talks.” Four boys sang a rowdy “Revenge” — Max Hanni, Aiden Johl, Augustas Poskus and Michael Zoeller. Probably the most heavenly performance was given by the duo of Andrea Pocernich and Augustus Poskus singing “Comfort to my People.”

The high point of the evening was the Senior High Choir singing a rhythmic “By the Waters of Babylon.” I think we audience members got into a kind of group sway. At the evening’s end, MaryRose led all of us, audience included, in “Country Roads Minnesota,” a version she modified to fit our state. We didn’t have the words, but all of us joined in for the chorus.

One week later, on Feb. 8, a dozen students performed in the Cromwell-Wright One Act play, “The Internet is Distract- OH LOOK A KITTEN!” Kind of a goofy title, but probably the best One Act I’ve seen in quite a while. The plot centers on a girl, Micah, who is trying to complete a school essay but keeps getting interrupted by her mother and/or fellow students. In the program, each actor wrote a bit about his/her experience of being in the One Act and what he/she hoped to do in the future. Some thanked Mrs. Varo and other teachers for their coaching. Some praised the experience of participating in the One Act competition.

The audience members crowded around the performers afterward in the “lobby” (aka school lunchroom). Lots of giggling and kudos. I enjoy rubbing elbows with parents I haven’t met before. Rod and I agreed that both performances lit up our week, especially since we are struggling with 2021 taxes.

Columnist Ann Markusen is an economist and professor emerita at University of Minnesota. A Pine Knot board member, she lives in Red Clover Township north of Cromwell with her husband, Rod Walli.