Moline High School presents Flowers for Algernon

Summary of the plot

The story of Flowers for Algernon centers on Charlie Gordon, a mentally challenged  janitor (37 years old in the original novella, 32 years old in the full novel), who volunteers to take part in an experimental intelligence-enhancing treatment. His progress parallels that of Algernon, a laboratory mouse who had been "enhanced" earlier. The story is told from Charlie's point of view and written as a journal, or progris riport, as he initially spells it, which he keeps as part of the experiment. Succeeding entries trace Charlie's ever-increasing comprehension and intelligence in the aftermath of the treatment, as he passes through "normalcy ", and then reaches super-genius  level. He becomes more intelligent than the doctors who invented the procedure.

He discovers both the advantages of intelligence and awareness, including his sexual-emotional relationship with his former teacher, Alice Kinnian; and the disadvantages, as he discovers that the people he thought were his friends had only viewed him as 'entertainment', and now resent his superior abilities.

Yet, all else seems to be well, until Algernon's enhanced intelligence begins to fade rapidly. As Charlie himself confirms, the neural enhancement is only temporary, and he too is doomed to revert to his original mental state. Some say that Algernon's death is supposed to imply that the treatment will also eventually kill Charlie, but his own notes on the subject, dubbed the Algernon-Gordon Effect, say nothing of his impending death. He records his struggles to find a way to stop the decay until he realizes the futility of it all. Therefore, when Alice Kinnian, his teacher at the School for Slow Adults, proposes marriage to Charlie, he refuses because he does not want to be a burden to her when his intellect decreases once again. The title's mention of flowers is a reference to Charlie's last request that "please if you get a chanse put some flowrs on Algernons grave in the bak yard...".”Flowers for Algernon.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

Cast in order of appearance
 
Alex Ryser                   Dr. Strauss
Nick Munson               Professor Nemur
Cara Chumbley            Alice Kinnian
Ian Heaton                   Burt Seldon
Aaron Lopez                Charlie Gordon
Heather Hall                 Nurse Doris
Calvin Vo                     Frank
Samantha Tonn Gina
Hilary Pieper                Mrs. Donner
Tommy Ratkiewicz       Joe
Grace Pheiffer              Mother
Keith Wangler              Little Charlie
J.P. Harlowe                Father
Jamie Lawrence            Child Norma
Cassie Goodpaster       Mrs. Feldman   
Christianna Crosby       Ellen
Mitch Freeman Bernice
Elizabeth Wales            Connie
Ashton Driscoll             Chair Lady
Martha Ade                  Mrs. Mooney
Ashley Brosius  Mrs. Nemur
Caleb Randol               Mr. Harvey
Rebecca Stewart          Jackie Welberg
Jessica Graham Anne Welberg
Lindsay Anderson         Norma
 
Voice from the Audience          Alexis Steele
 
Jake Soltow                 Party People
Evan White
Laura Peterson
Jessica Welch