Guys and Dolls is the story of unrepentant gamblers and unexpected love. High-roller Sky Masterson finds himself in the company of Christian mission leader Sarah Brown after making a wager that he could take her to Havana. The bet was made by Nathan Detroit, who needed money to host a craps game. Nathan’s fiancé of fourteen years, Adelaide, is greatly distressed by the long engagement and hassles Nathan for a wedding throughout the entire show. In 1950, Frank Loesser, Jo Swerling, and Abe Burrows created the musical that would be loved for decades.

Pattonville did an excellent job displaying the relationships between the different characters. The set was creative and aided in the flow of the play. The costumes were period accurate and colorful, giving the production life. The actors were filled with energy as they sang and danced across the stage. The lighting was dynamic and added to the moods of each scene. Overall, the school gave an exceptional performance.

Kalen Riley, in the role of Sky Masterson, showed the suave sarcasm of his character very well. He had great chemistry with Sarah Brown, played by Sarah Vik. Vik had a lovely operatic voice and could hit every note. While the two leads did an excellent job, the secondary leads stole the show. Nathan Detroit (Aaron Landgraf) was energetic and added life and movement to the show. He interacted well with the others on stage and performed well in his song “Sue Me.” His paramour Adelaide (Anna Pirrie) seemed to channel Vivian Blaine, who played the same role in the original stage production and on film. Her accent was spot-on and her dancing was great.

Although the main actors did an excellent job in their performances, they were not the only ones. Nathan’s sidekicks, Benny, Nicely-Nicely, and Rusty Charlie, were played by Jacob Painter, Kyle Baldwin, and Devin Harris respectively. They worked together through the whole production but also stood out on their own. Baldwin did a great job in his song “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat.” All three were able to sing their lines in the difficult “Fugue for Tinhorns.” The Hot Box Girls all danced well and in time; everyone seemed to know the steps.

The technical side of the play was outstanding. The lights, designed by Elizabeth Watson, were vivid and nearly every spotlight was even and on its mark. Although sound had some technical difficulties, the audience members in the balcony could hear nearly every word. Two set pieces that stood out were the Hot Box Stage and the New York City backdrop; both were filled with color and it was evident that a lot of work went into their construction. The costumes (led by Ana Cruz) only added to the effect of the production. Overall, the play would not have been the same without the work of the technical department.

Pattonville High School put on an enjoyable production that was fun for all who watched. The audience learned that love can come from unexpected places. The costumes, set, and music transported the audience to the early twentieth century.

by Anna Weeden of Holt High School

You Can’t Take It With You was written by George Kaufman and Moss Hart and debuted in 1936. Winning the Pulitzer Prize in 1937, the script has been adapted into two movies. Written in three acts, the classic comedy is a must see for any theatre lover.

As we first meet the Sycamores, they seem like they could be a normal family, sure they have their quirks, but who doesn’t. But as the fireworks explode, the IRS appears, and the youngest daughter unskillfully prances around the living room, we realize the family is just plain wacky. That is except for the oldest daughter, Alice. Alice (Kaitlin Grant) is the ideal young lady, and she finds the ideal young man, Tony (Aaron Landgraf). The two actors had the kind of chemistry which makes you hope they’ll end up together.

To lighten the mood, Mr. DePinna was always able to deliver his lines in a way that made the audience laugh and Ed’s confused expressions and silly antics were always fun to watch. The grandfather’s (Jacob Painter) outlook on life was delivered convincingly, and brought meaning to the madness. Between the random Russian dance teacher who showed up, his friend the Duchess, and the drunk actress there was seldom a dull moment. The drunken actress (Megan Willingham) delivered memorable lines and was really able to create a character for herself within the little time she appeared on stage and wasn’t passed out.

Hair, costume, and make-up were all simple yet effective and period. Lights went without any noticeable glitches and the sound, which was strong for the majority of the show, was at times too loud. The attention to detail was magnificent, the plethora of props were right for the time, they had a working typewriter as well as a xylophone on stage. The house which hosted all of this was large enough to cover their huge stage, appeared well constructed while being an attractive set.

Pattonville High School’s production was a night full of surprises, laughter, and morals.

by Jennifer Boston of McCluer High School

Starring Robert Preston and Barbara Cook, The Music Man opened on Broadway in 1957 and won the Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Lead Actor and Actress, and Best Featured Actor. The story follows the crafty and cunning traveling salesman Harold Hill as he stirs up “Trouble with a capital T” in the town of River City, Iowa. The trickster tries to win over the inflexible town piano teacher, Marian Paroo, while forming a boy’s band despite the fact that he is unable to play music, let alone conduct it. Paroo eventually falls for him when she realizes that through his swindling, Hill has given River City a fresh, positive attitude and a bright outlook towards the future.

Evan Fornachon nailed the role of the fast-talking Harold Hill with stellar vocals and consistent energy throughout. He commanded the stage in big numbers such as “Seventy-Six Trombones” and “Trouble.” Reciprocating his success was Anna Pirrie in the role of the unyielding Marian Paroo, who portrayed the character well with beautiful vocals. The two displayed excellent chemistry during the romantic height of the show, “Till There Was You.”

Also succeeding on stage was Stephanie Vonrax, who superbly displayed the childlike qualities of the young piano student, Amaryllis. Harry Kolmer added a hilarious touch with his outstanding portrayal of the irritable Mayor Shinn. The high energy and comedic styling of Nate Bassman as Marcellus added a nice comedic touch and contrasted the occasionally low energy of the ensemble. The Barbershop Quartet of Josh Eldridge, David Robinson, Luke Morin and Jacob Painter cohesively harmonized throughout difficult songs, adding a fantastic dose of gorgeous vocals.

Notably, the Pattonville High School Orchestra played difficult songs with precision and splendor, creating the brass-band feeling during songs such as “Seventy-Six Trombones.”

Sound provided some issues for the cast, as overpowering microphones at times drowned out the ensemble. Despite the flaws, all major characters were audible when singing or speaking. Some costumes fell outside of the intended time period, but others were spot on. Stage crew was sometimes visible during scene changes, but overall moved swiftly and efficiently. As a whole, the technical crews encountered minor flaws, but still pulled off a difficult show with precision and competence.

Pattonville High School succeeded in bringing the timeless and beloved The Music Man to life with a talented cast backed by an equally capable crew. The Music Man proves that when a traveling salesman, a stuck up librarian and a horde of stubborn Iowans join together, “well, ya got trouble, my friend.”

by Nathan Robert Hinds of Holt High School

Written in 1939 by Joseph Kesselring, Arsenic and Old Lace is a dark comedy centering around the eccentric Brewster family. Abby and Martha Brewster are two aunts who together have put to rest twelve elderly, and lonely, gentlemen using a mix of poison in their homemade elderberry wine. When their nephew Mortimer, a soon to be married theatre critic, finds out what has transpired in their home, he starts to freak out as he finally sees the true side of his family. His brother Teddy thinks he is President Theodore Roosevelt, and his other brother Jonathan is a psychopath that just came home with an odd surgeon with an undistinguished accent. As they all meet together, the dynamics of this unconventional family starts to spiral out of control into chaos.

With great chemistry and a good sense of comedy, Pattonville’s Pirate Players worked with great technical elements to produce a classic story.

One interesting element of the show was the binding chemistry between all of the characters. Every little ensemble worked together to create a convincing relationship, such as Mortimer and Elaine (Sam Decker and Anna Pirrie) and Jonathan and Dr. Einstein (Harry Kolmer and David Robinson). Aaron Landgraf as Teddy Brewster was spot on. He captured the mannerisms of Teddy Roosevelt beautifully, and had impeccable comedic timing. Sam Decker (Mortimer) was able to let his normality shine through the strangeness around him, using well developed characterization. Mr. Gibbs and Officer O’Hara (William Hogenmiller and Jacob Painter) stood out as featured roles with their memorable delivery and emotion.

Although the energy throughout the show reached a very high peak, at other times it was very low and the show seemed to drag. Some actors took advantage of the times they weren’t in the spotlight to continue acting, and add more interesting depth to their characters. Others however, felt a bit lost at times.

The technical elements complemented the show very nicely, with a authentic looking set and realistic props that added to the believability of the story. The costumes overall seemed to fit the time period, though they didn’t always seem to fit the actors correctly. Sound (Katie Licameli) did a wonderful job with the balance of all the actors, and never missed a cue. The lighting, although sometimes blinding the audience, was overall well done to convey the time of day.

With an overall sense of harmonic comedy with the well characterized actors and authentic technical work, Pattonville’s Pirate Players left the audience dying for more.

by Sarah Clifton of Marquette High School