Last Sunday I attended the Syosset High School performance of Footloose. I was prepared for the usual amateurish, unpolished theatrics of high school kids.

Boy, was I surprised and enlightened!

It was professional in every sense of the word. The dancing looked as if it had come from Broadway and 45th Street. They spun and pirouetted like the dance gypsies in Manhattan.

The acting and singing moved the plot along just expertly. Unlike many trite "high school musicals," this one had depth and heart. A high school boy, Ren, played realistically by Michael Spinelli, moves from swinging Chicago to a small Texas farming town. The town has banned dancing because of an accident to the minister's (played ably by Joseph Rosenshtein) son.

And now for the Star!

Carly Kaplan (the minister's daughter) rivets your attention even when she is not center stage singing or dancing. Her fresh beauty and beautiful singing voice capture every bit of your attention. I saw her eponymous performance of Annie in junior high school.

She has developed into an elegant and graceful performer.

She is heading off for college and we hope the lucky university uses her talents wisely.

Many kudos to director and choreographer Gene Connor. He extracted the best performance from his cast. The entire cast and orchestra deserve our plaudits. Great job, Guys and Gals!

Follow-up email to a column of Feb. 28, 2005 Meeting on a Plane, from a Kenyan we shall call Joseph.

Lorraine and Stanley Greenberg,

Thanks for your speedy reply to my email. I could not write back equally as quick, since I have to arrange to visit a cyber café in town.

The articles that you gave me on the plane, one was one that you wrote about your wife, "Lorraine," another about "Confucius," another on "Money-Money-Money" and another on "Doing Good." I have since read many more on the Internet for the magazine that you write for.

My family is safe in Kenya, though some of the family had to move to our rural home after my brother's house was burnt, but that was about all - no life was lost and we thank God for that. Though we are saddened that over 1,000 other lives were lost and some killings are still going on. Kenya is bleeding - but now slowly some healing!

Thanks that you remembered me, I remember you and your wife, Lorraine. And, too, I remember a very friendly conversation we had on the plane. I was delighted that God blessed me with opportunity to meet a happy Couple.

God bless you as we walk nearer to Easter.

Yours in friendship,

Joseph