BANGOR – Behind some doors, in some narrow spaces, and with a few twists and turns in the redeveloped old Bangor High School, now known as the Schoolhouse Apartments on Harlow Street, there is a stage of historical status known as “Mrs. B’s” arena.

Mrs. Barbara Brown, known to her students as “Mrs. B,” was elegant, charming, focused to task, talented and giving of her knowledge. Mrs. B’s physical appearance was bandbox perfect, from her lovely hair done up in a bun to her beautiful cameo ring. When Mrs. B walked by you at school or anywhere, you felt like an understudy waiting in the wings. She just sparkled.

Mrs. B gave cast members of the play “Alice in Wonderland” memories to last a lifetime. During tryouts for the production on Nov. 22, 1963, the principal of the high school came in and spoke quietly to her.

He left, and Mrs. B gathered us together and explained that John F. Kennedy, president of the United States, had been shot. Through her tears, she encouraged cast members to continue.

The play was developed by the group and placed first in the state competition in 1964, then went on to the New England Drama Festival in Middlebury, Vt., where it received a rating of “excellent.”

The Maine Department of Economic Development, which selected the play for the honor of representing Maine at the World’s Fair, had considered it for the distinction on the basis of present and past competence in the drama field and its position as state champion.

Members of the troupe went to New York City where they presented “Alice in Wonderland” on May 28 on Maine Day at the New England Pavilion at the World’s Fair. Mrs. B arranged for the young thespians to be filmed for the “Tonight” show.

There were no pay phones then, so everyone raced for public pay phones to call home and report.

Mrs. B walked us down Broadway where Barbara Streisand was starring in “Funny Girl.” She let us, in groups, go from the hotel that night to buy chestnuts from a street vendor.

The cost of the trip was financed through the Bangor Chamber of Commerce, with the city of Bangor and local business firms, industries and theatrical organizations as underwriters.

Mrs. B was 80 when she died. I will be 60 next year and it made me realize that when we were 17 or 18, the influential people in our lives – like Mrs. B – were solid as old granite.

Mrs. B was only 37 when she gave so much to us. She was an educator of future world and community members and, “My Dear,” as she would say, “a treasure.”

Cast members were: Patricia Bristow, Virginia Graham, Mary Wescott, Donald Blair, William Cohen, Bonnie Colpitts, Charlotte Crabtree, Joshua Cutler, Vickie Daigle, Janet Elliott, G. Daniel Field, Donald Goodridge, Vicki Gordon, Robin Houston, Judy Maunder, William Nadeau, Trudy Nelson, Marc Owen, Richard Sawyer, Jane Simpson and Sharyn Torbert.

Bonnie Colpitts Puls lives in Bangor.