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[JAN. 18, 2002]  Bored with winter? Lincoln Public Library presents "Board Games Rodeo" from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. every Saturday through March 23 in the Pegram Community Room.

If you are high school age through adult, you are invited to come and compete against your fellow "boardmeisters" in games of Monopoly, Risk, Scrabble, chess, checkers, Chinese checkers, backgammon, Trivial Pursuit and Yatzee. Remember to bring your gameboard so everyone can participate.

Tri-County AmeriCorps volunteers serve as referees.

Light snacks are served.

For more information about this program, visit the library at 725 Pekin St. or call (217) 732-8878 or 732-5732.

[JAN. 30, 2002]  ^"The Edge on the Sword," by Rebecca Tingle. G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2001, 277 pages.

Fifteen-year-old Aethelflaed, or Flaed, is the eldest child of Alfred the Great, the ninth-century leader. As the story opens, we find her very content to be learning her letters, reading Anglo-Saxon poetry, playing with her little sisters and spending time in nature with her brother, Edward. She is aware that this idyllic life cannot go on forever, but she has no idea just how soon it will end.

In a late evening conversation with her father, he tells her that at summer’s end she will be wed to Ethelred of Mercia, his friend and ally. The betrothal is to strengthen the alliance against their foes, the Danes. She knows little about this man except that he is as old as her father is. She remembers that her grandfather married his second wife, Judith, when she was only 13 and a year younger than her father was when she became his stepmother. Flaed has always known that she would be expected to marry, but she had hoped it would be many years from now.

The marriage is soon announced to the people of the burgh with a great feast and gifts for Flaed from King Ethelred. An envoy, Red, is sent from Mercia to protect her from the king’s enemies who don’t want the wedding to take place. She resents his presence at first but later learns an important lesson when she deceives him and escapes, only to be captured by England’s enemies to the north.

Red rescues her and their relationship changes. He becomes her tutor in weapons, warfare and battlefield leadership so that she can defend herself if the situation should arise. The training is grueling and she is a good student, not knowing that this is a role she will have to assume even before she becomes a bride.

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After the attack on Flaed, King Alfred is convinced that the wedding should take place as soon as possible to solidify the alliance with Mercia. The sad day comes when she must leave her family and home, not knowing when they would see each other again.

The first day of their journey, raiders attack them. Red makes Flaed leave and hide until the attack is over. When it is safe to return she finds that Red has been fatally wounded. She must now assume the leadership of her men and comprise a battle plan. She must draw upon all of her lessons in history, poetry, politics and war to get her rebellious retainers safely to Lunden in Mercia where King Ethelred awaits.

This book is a thrilling historical novel with an exciting and moving climax and is appropriate for grades six through 10. Queen Aethelflaed was a real person who governed Mercia in central England in the late 800s. Rebecca Tingle discovered her story while reading the "Anglo-Saxon Chronicle" in the library of Oxford University. This is Ms. Tingle’s first novel.

For more information about this book or others, visit the library at 725 Pekin St. or call (217) 732-5732.

[Richard Sumrall, Lincoln Public Library District]

• Lincoln Community Theatre

• Logan County Arts Association

[FEB. 7, 2002]  Performances of "Deathtrap," by Ira Levin, begin this weekend at the Decatur Civic Center Theatre. Curtain time will be at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 8, 9, 15 and 16 and at 2 p.m. on Feb. 10 and 17. This is the second show of Theatre 7’s 38th season.

In the play, a successful writer of Broadway thrillers is struggling to overcome a "dry" spell when he receives a script from a student. Suspense mounts steadily as the plot begins to twist and turn with devilish cleverness that holds audiences enthralled until the final, startling moment of the play.

Cast members are Peter Kareotes as Sidney Bruhl, Mary Wilking as Myra Bruhl, Jeff Cowgill as Cliford Anderson, Missy Grohne as Helga Ten Drop and Lonn Pressnal as Porter Milgrim.

Anne Thompson is the director, and the assistant director is John Dunn.

Tickets are on sale to the public at the Decatur Civic Center Box Office, 422-6161.

The production is sponsored by Behnke and Company, Inc.

[Theatre 7 news release]

[FEB. 7, 2002]  Merely Players, in cooperation with the Richland Community College Forensicaturs (for EN sic ay ters), present the two-act adult comedy "Sylvia" in Shilling Auditorium on Feb. 14, 15, 16, 22 and 23. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. for each performance. Tickets are available at the door or by calling 875-7211, Ext. 342.

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[FEB. 7, 2002]  Theatre 7 in Decatur announces an audition workshop along with auditions for the musical comedy "Anything Goes."

Want to be on stage... but afraid to try?

"Auditioning Conditioning" is a workshop offered by Theatre 7’s director, Mike Redlinger, to help nervous potential performers cope and provide them with helpful hints for better tryouts. The workshop will be on Saturday, Feb. 16, from 1 to 3 p.m., at T7’s headquarters, 131 N. Water in Decatur. Reservations are not required and there is no charge.

This will be an excellent opportunity to become familiar with the music, history, highlights, cast requirements and rehearsal schedule for Theatre 7 upcoming production of the musical comedy "Anything Goes." The cast consists of 26 male and 26 female roles, ages 16-80.

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Lincoln Community Theatre’s website is at www.geocities.com/lincolncommunitytheatre/index.html. Pictures from past productions are included.  The LCT mailing address is Lincoln Community Theatre, P.O. Box 374, Lincoln, IL  62656.  E-mail: lincolncommunitytheatre@yahoo.com.

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