by Lisa Frank
The Custer County High School Drama Department presented an entertaining musical that ran Thursday, Friday and Saturday. If you didn’t get the opportunity to see this energetic group of students perform, you missed a wonderful display of talent and teamwork. The musical is an adaptation of the novel, “Little Women” by American author Louisa May Alcott (1832–1888).
Holly Wenger played the lead role of Jo (Louisa May) and was flawless in her characterization of the talented, often frustrated young writer. Holly’s voice was clear, emotive and beautifully on key which was herculean considering the length of her role with its intense physicality and complicated vocalizations. She succeeded in acting and dancing her way through two acts and 11 scene changes!
One scene with Jo and her favorite sister Beth, played cunningly by Betsy Zeller, who succumbs to scarlet fever in the second act, brought tears to my eyes as they tenderly harmonized their goodbyes. Gabi Blake played the youngest, obviously spoiled sister, Amy March. She was irritating, aggravating and hilarious to watch as she stomped her feet, shook her long spiral curls, pouted and demanded attention in an all-female household. Molly McClain as Meg, the oldest March sister, embodied the women of this era with her proper dress, speech and early marriage to John Brooke, played by Andrew Slawski. These two students presented their pure, blossoming love with a truth and lack of embarrassment, rare for 10th graders, and I can perhaps attribute their success to Sarah Peachey, known for her talented and equally fun ability to solicit the very best from her students.
Hannah Kennedy as Marmie was poised and endearing, suffering the loneliness of life absent her husband who was entrenched in America’s Civil War. Tyler Ferron played Mr. Laurence a well-to-do elderly neighbor who was raising his orphaned grandson Laurie, played by Danny Selden. Both sang their way into the audience’s heart with Tyler striding and harrumphing as only an older, secure man can and Selden was insecure and handsome with a sweet smile that captured the hearts of two of the sisters.
In scene 4 of the last act, petulant Amy returns from Europe with her Aunt March, played by Ivy Reinke.
Beth has died and Amy has captured Laurie’s heart, a heart first offered to Jo which she spurned. In each scene, Ivy Reinke’s
portrayal of the spinsterish cast a spell over the audience, effortlessly singing beautiful duets instructing her nieces in the importance of a ‘good marriage’. Aunt March insists that alone they cannot survive, something Jo refuses to accept and now Amy and Laurie are to be married. Jo is left to sadly ponder her future alone, without her sisters, something she childishly thought would never happen. In the final scene German Professor Bhaer, played by Wulfgar Parmenter, enters once more. Prof. Bhaer appeared in the opening of the musical, a gentleman living in the same boarding house in New York City as Jo. He is her confidant and intellectual equal and their personalities are opposite and humorously combative. In the second act, Professor Bhaer awkwardly travels to Jo’s home to tell her of his love. The German accent Wulfgar Parmenter affects is splendid, even while singing, and his portrayal of a conventional German is irresistible. You want this heartsick foreigner to capture the unbridled heart of the all-American Jo and the sweet tension between Parmenter and Wenger was delightful.
Another notable performance was Mrs. Kirk played by Lauren Kitchens.
Ms. Day was stage manager with assistant Makynna Reiff. Aniston Shearer, was on sound, lights and props.
The chorus, Mattie Ballard, Thea Bowers, Delaney Downing, Trinity Nelson and Coleman Reiff, performed to the delight of the audience. Cheryl Pinnella accompanied on the keyboard.
It was a most enjoyable 2.5 hours and I congratulate everyone involved.
Excellent work!