In a little-known appearance as a thespian, Gary Pickens appeared in the Flagler High School Junior Class Play, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, adapted by John G. Fuller. The play was presented on March 26th and 27th. Gary appeared in the second performance, as the redoubtable (if blundering) knight named Sir Sagramor. This represents Gary’s only major stage appearance, much to his relief.
Here is a link to one version of the play A CONNECTICUT YANKEE IN KING ARTHUR’S COURT (FULLER). Or you can find out more about Mark Twain’s novel. (As is generally the case with Mark Twain, his interpretation of medieval history is not to be taken seriously.)
You might ask how this obscure event came to light. The other night Marilyn and I were watching the Merlin serial on Netflix and a new knight came into the story. His name and behavior seemed to ring a bell, and I thought I had played that same character in high school a half century ago. I explained my character to my wife, and I remembered that when we were cleaning up the farm after my parents had passed away, I had found the old script from the play and had put it in my pile of things to bring home.
So after we finished watching the show, I went to find the old script, and figure out what my lines had been. At first I had no luck finding it, and I gave up on the effort. Then, several weeks later, when I was looking for something totally different, I finally found that script book, along with the play program. Alas, upon looking at it closely, I found that I had not been the particular character that appeared in the Netflix show. But I had played a knight in King Arthur’s court!
When we were clearing things out at the farm in 2013, I found it in the old granary.
I was very surprised that it had survived!