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LERON WELLINGTON
Special to The Leader
A musical about adolescence and all the awkwardness along with it may not sound very enjoyable, but the Performing Arts Company’s production of “Summer of ‘42” was a light-hearted comedy that left audiences with a few chuckles and smiles from ear to ear.
With the book written by Hunter Foster and music and lyrics by David Kirshenbaum, the musical tells the story of a boy, Hermie (played by senior Billy Blair) in his early teens who expects a usual summer with his friends (senior Eric Shutt, junior Jared Eichel) on Nantucket island learning about girls and sex.
But he quickly finds himself falling in love with a woman (played by Melanie McBride, freshman) whose husband is away fighting in World War II. The story is told with the help of young girls (played by sophomore Samantha Luck, sophomore Angela Wheeler and sophomore Melita Kingston) who serve as both a Greek chorus and actual characters in the story.
The show was directed by senior Kiernan Matts and features a small but strong ensemble cast. The production showcases a variety of musical styles that the cast handled with ease. From tight harmonies to contemporary musical theatre ballads, the cast performed every number with vibrancy and zest.
The cast delved deeply into their characters, which ultimately drove the story. By tackling the chaos of being a teenager, the cast grasped the hilarity of growing up and learning about oneself.
The comedic elements were perfect, in that they were both relatively realistic and believable but, at the same time, whimsical and ludicrous. Specifically, the characters of the teenagers were played with a sense of familiarity and overall honesty which was very enjoyable to watch.
On the other hand, the musical had some intimate moments which were done very well. The actors’ commitment to their characters made the audience absorbed in scenes that were not as flashy.
McBride’s performance as Dorothy was both subtle and intense and gave the character a mysteriousness but strong likability. What made the show work was the balance of both comedic and dramatic elements.
The set of the show was minimalist, with only three backdrops and a limited amount of set pieces. It worked well, making it easier for the audience to focus and understand what was going on. The costumes design, provided by freshman Sydney Caprio, continued with the idea of simplicity which gave the audience a simple idea of who the character were.
The high energy from the cast did not make it seem as though anything was missing from a visual standpoint. The cast and crew worked well together to make scene transitions as seamless as possible. With little to no curtain to separate the actors from the audience, the cast remained committed to their roles the whole time, from the show’s start to its finish.
The production was put on in the Multipurpose Room, which is a larger space than where PAC shows are usually performed. That being said, the cast used the space well by performing in places other than the stage, which was set up in one corner of the room. The lighting, provided by sophomore Samantha Ticker, was used well to light the whole space not just the stage.
By moving scenes from the stage to sides of the audience, the audience was kept engaged and on the edge of their seats. Even though the space is relatively large, the show was well-lit from almost every position of the actors in the space.
This non-traditional musical showcased a lot of talent and hard work from not only the cast, but the people behind it. The show was great because of the details that were put in by the help of students who focused on music direction (by sophomore Victoria Dieck), choreography (by sophomore Eva Mancarella) and technical design.
It is amazing how with limited resources, people can come together and still creative something that is really unique. The musical might not be the deepest or most thought provoking, but it makes the audience think back to a time of pubescence and simply forces them to just smile.