Thoroughly Modern Millie, based on the 1967 film of the same name, opened on Broadway in April of 2002. The epitome of a feel-good musical, it went on to win six Tony Awards, playing over 900 performances on the Great White Way. Becoming accustomed to the flapper life, Millie embarks on countless adventures in the Big Apple, while meeting trustworthy friends and even falling in love along the way.

Talent was certainly not lacking in this fabulous production. Emily Gudmestad (Millie) dazzled the audience with her enthusiastic and believable portrayal of the title character. Her love interest, Ben Diamond (Jimmy), delivered his charming lines with ease, impressing the audience with his stellar vocals. It was a joy to watch the relationship between his character and Millie develop. James Kerr (Trevor Graydon) especially stood out with his incredible stage presence and ability to make his character truly memorable by engaging the audience in laughter. His hilarious number with Millie’s new best friend Claire Lisker (Dorothy) certainly stood out, for their comedic timing was nothing short of spot-on.

Mrs. Meers (Caroline Kidwell) portrayed her scheming character with conviction. The two Chinese immigrants, Ching Ho (Sam Stern) and Bun Foo (Robbie Love) were extremely likable, for the audience could not help but fall in love with the pair’s comedic dynamic.

The colorful costumes fit the time period perfectly, adding to the signature “flapper” look of the twenties. Though overpowered by the orchestra at times, the ensemble brought life and energy to the stage, immediately engaging the audience. Especially notable were the beautiful sets, making the audience feel as if they were part of the scene. The props were also impressive, especially the many typewriters in the office.

The energy of the cast truly brought the show to life. Each performer made a unique contribution to the impressive production.

The upbeat musical numbers, complete with awesome dance moves, never failed to capture the attention of the crowd. Clayton’s excellent cast definitely shone during their performance of Thoroughly Modern Millie, providing for a lovely afternoon.

by Olivia Ellis of Nerinx Hall

Adapted from the classical Roman poem by Ovid, Mary Zimmerman wrote this play with the theme of change in mind, especially change implemented by love. The show premiered in Chicago at Northwestern University and Lookingglass Theatre Company in 1996. It went to New York in 2001 at an Off-Broadway theatre, and then moved to Broadway in February 2002. One year later, after 400 performances, Zimmerman’s Metamorphoses closed on February 16, 2003.

Robert Love, acting as the first character from Roman folklore to hit the stage, definitely set the standard for an afternoon of spectacular theatre. As Midas, he was convincing in portraying the character’s greed and, later, grief. Later in the play, as the God of music Apollo, Love drew laughs from the engaged audience by singing his lines. In one of the most powerful scenes of the performance, Eudora Olson displayed a true talent for conveying emotion as Alcyone when her character’s husband died at the hands of the ocean.

As the meddling Goddess Aphrodite, Sarah Lerwick wonderfully exhibited a façade of stubbornness and excessive pride. Katie Warnusz-Steckl flawlessly and passionately rendered the conflicted Myrrha in the seventh scene. Alessandra Silva demonstrated an impressive exercise of both acting ability and muscle strength as Midas’ daughter who turned to gold, mid-embrace, and later in the show as the eerie and unnerving Hunger. James Kerr gave the character Vertumnus a lovable touch through his facial expressions and fantastic portrayal of being in love with Pomona, portrayed believably by Emma Riley.

The use of the pool (Lucy Bowe) as the primary set piece was unique and sensational. It added to the overall experience of the show momentously. The lighting (Max Treutelaar), as it reflected the ripple of the water on the set, was beautiful. In the first scene, when Midas would touch things, gold light flooded the area, effectively adding to the illusion. Every technical cue seemed to be exactly right.

Although the cast shined as each had their individual spotlights, at sometimes in supporting roles they lost energy. A few times, the actors would speak so quickly that it was difficult to catch every line, but overall the delivery was spot-on. During the last scene, there was some visible confusion at times that perhaps could have been hidden more effectively, but it didn’t detract from the scene.

Clayton High School put on a play on Sunday that was sure to impress. Through a cast of terrific actors and a crew of obvious merit, Metamorphoses drew striking conclusions of change by love and greed. The intimacy of the theatre paired with the rarity of the water vat on set created a show that went swimmingly.

by Kari Leigh Brinkley of Holt High School

Based on the 1984 film of the same name, Footloose premiered in 1998 on Broadway. Staying true to the story and music of the teen flick that launched Kevin Bacon into stardom, the musical follows the path of Ren McCormack, a rebellious kid from Chicago who is forced to move with his mother to the small town of Bomont. There, he unintentionally stirs the pot while trying to adjust to a completely different set of standards. One law he finds most difficult to follow and wishes to change is the law of no dancing. With the help of the rebellious preacher’s daughter, Ariel, Ren shakes up the town and begins to change it, maybe for the better.

The lighthearted musical was performed with a wonderful sense of energy from the extensive ensemble. Footloose really picks up along the way, ending on a high note. Dancers perfect their moves and many voices radiate with spirit and emotion as they travel through the auditorium. On numerous occasions, actors bring forth emotion that can be felt by every member of the audience, young to old. The exciting energy and enthusiasm many performers brought to the show made for a fun night at the theater.

At the center of the story, Ben Diamond starred as Ren McCormack, the catalyst for the events that transpire throughout the show. With a pure, strong voice, Diamond sings every note with ease and does not let the simultaneous and sometimes complex dance moves throw him from using each element of a triple threat simultaneously. The role seems to come easily to him, as it does his counterpart, Emily Gudmestad as Ariel. She shared a believable on-stage chemistry with Ren and especially shines when the time comes for her to belt some of the higher notes in many of the songs.

One of the most notable performances in the show was that of Fergus Inder as Ariel’s father, Reverend Moore. He brings a level of realism and emotion to his role that is rarely seen in high school level productions. His scenes, specifically his final ballad near the end of Act II, stand out among the rest and truly move viewers beyond expectations. In an entirely different role, Aaron Argyres provides terrific comic relief to the show as Ren’s best friend and sidekick Willard. He easily slides into the country accent and brings the biggest laughs of the show. His song, “Momma Says,” is a complete crowd pleaser and seemed to really showcase his abilities. Other standouts were Lauren Hill as Rusty, whose fantastic voice made her songs a true pleasure, and Caroline Kidwell as Vi Moore, whose performance was surprisingly touching and realistic.

On the technical side, the show was very strong. Made up of entirely students, the full orchestra always kept up with the music and was loud without overpowering the sounds of the performers. Costume-wise, they were perfectly in time with the era of the show and really brought it to life, along with adding an extra element of fun to the show. The lights were flashy in a suitable way and highlighted elements of the bigger songs. The show ran for the most part quite smoothly thanks to the crew.

Footloose at Clayton High School may not be a show that ponders life’s greater questions, but it’s the kind that gives audiences a wonderful pick me up in the cold months of winter and leaves viewers dancing in the aisles when the curtain comes down.

by Alex Bush of Mary Institute St. louis Country Day School

The Taming of the Shrew is a play written by William Shakespeare sometime between the years of 1590 and 1594. It is a play inside of a play, starting off with a lord telling a drunken man that he is a nobleman and showing him a play for his amusement. This show is about a man named Petruchio (played by Fergus Inder) attempting to make a woman, Katherine (played by Amanda Wagner) into a better wife. The two are introduced because Lucentio (Robbie Love) and Gremio (James Kerr), two suitors, are attempting to steal the heart of Katherine’s younger sister, Bianca (Sarah Lerwick). However, as the older sister Katherine must get married before Bianca. And thus, the story begins.

The lead characters both played their characters well. Inder was very convincing as a rude stereotypical man of the time, while Wagner thoroughly demonstrated her character’s progression from a shrew-like woman to an obedient wife. One of the best scenes of the play occurred when the two met, and Inder begins persuading Wagner that she must marry him. They played the scene in a very entertaining and interesting way, allowing the audience to see the nature of their relationship when they first meet.

One of the most fascinating characters in this show, however, was Grumio (played by Lewis Grant). Grant played Inder’s servant, and he did so in a very fascinating way by taking on a Scottish dialect. This interesting way of speaking was further emphasized by his interesting way of moving; he seemed to be always on his toes, ready to move at a moment’s notice, providing his character with a spastic yet fun appearance.

In terms of the technical side of the show, there was not too much to speak of. The most significant was their stage crew, moving objects around in between scenes seamlessly despite the room being extremely dark.

The problems with this show were not terribly apparent, however they were present. At times, it felt as if the actors were talking too quickly or not speaking with enough diction. This is a serious problem for a Shakespearian play, as people in the modern world do not talk the same way that they did back then, and thus it is challenging to understand it as it is. Another issue was that it felt as if some of the larger characters had a sense of chemistry among them that seemed to be lost in many of the supporting roles.

A definition of the word tame is lacking in excitement. However, this show was anything but that. Clayton High provided those who watched it with an entertaining afternoon filled with interesting characters, funny events, and less than modern day morals. Clayton delivered a great performance that was anything but tame.

by Matthew Greenbaum of Parkway Central High School