Local Teenagers to Give Original Play

A group of about 20 Cambridge teenagers will present an original play called Trouble in Swanson's Alley" at the Loeb Drama Center's experimental theatre on Nov. 10, 11, and 12.

The play, written by "Junior" Dempsey, a 1959 National Honor Society graduate of the Rindge Technical High School, will be performed by the Cambridge Teen Age Theatre under the direction of Stephen A. Aaron, assistant director of Loeb.

Dempsey presents an interesting moral conflict in his play. The plot concerns two teen-age gangs who are weary of the constant wars caused by the personal grudges of their leaders, "Dutch" and Monk." Monk's gang plans a sneak attack on Dutch's outfit. It takes the seemingly cowardly act of a member of Monk's gang, Pete, who rats to Dutch about the attack, to reconcile the two gangs.

According to Aaron, both the concept of the play and the cast are "very vital had alive and aware. Everyone judges everything in terms of whether or not it a genuine, not in terms of theatrical effect," he said. He sees "very definite talent" among the cast.

The "aimlessness of the lives of the characters" is reflected in the loose structure of the play, Aaron said. It is the kind of play which "needs improvisation," he added.

Dempsey wrote the play in about three days last July. "I just wrote it as it came into my mind," he stated. He would like to continue play writing.

The sister of the playwright, Pauline Dempsey, and another girl, Elaine Moscatel, will choreograph the play. Both of the girls will appear in the play, performing the dances which they have worked out.

The Teen-Age Theatre is sponsored by the Cambridge Neighborhood House and includes 17 and 18-year-olds of East Cambridge. About half of them are in school: the rest work.

"Trouble in Swanson's Alley" was performed last July in Cambridge school auditorium, and drew an audience of 200 people. Admission will be free, on a first-come, first-served basis.