No one should expect a lot from high school performing arts. Usually a stand out upperclassman with reasonable talent will carry the spring show and likely never perform again. Or, a wannabe diva sings her vocal chords to shreds while the rest of the cast looks on with disdain, but at least earning the extra credit necessary to pass biology. The audiences are primarily parents, teachers, protesting siblings and at least one administrator to show "support for the arts."
There are exceptions, of course. For example, I attended a performing arts magnet school in Atlanta, GA where it was commonplace for our shows to be covered and reviewed by local media. Professional choreographers and private vocal coaches were employed to fine tune the county-wide talent that often went on after commencement to perform in NYC or get picked up by a traveling Broadway show after successful stints at some of the nation's finest collegiate arts programs. That is not typical of most high schools.
Churchill High School, in San Antonio, TX, proved that they aren't typical of most high schools either. Today I had the pleasure of seeing "Hello, Dolly!" and the surprise of being blown away. Every member of the cast performed their hearts out during a matinee showing to an almost packed house, and the cast was plentiful! A live orchestra accompanied beautifully and in perfect step with the players. The music and theater performers were supported during the closing number of the first act with a cameo from the school marching band and dance team, the latter of which joined the troupe during the second act as waiters during the scene in the Harmonia Garden Restaurant. These usually non theater performers augmented a cast that seemed to have a spot for every student willing to dress up in period garb and learn some basic blocking and dance sequences. In reality, this mix of school programs combined with the sheer number of players involved and the typical let downs that often come with matinees should have been a recipe for disaster. But it was far from it!
The choreography was simple, but striking. The set was sturdy yet elegant, and flawlessly manipulated from every angle. The humor was contrived (obviously - it is a script) but timed brilliantly! There were some challenges with ticketing it appeared, but the director held the show back about 10 minutes so that everyone had a chance to get in rather than kick willing patrons to the curb by snobbishly holding fast to a 2:30 curtain time as some directors might be inclined to do... And I haven't even mentioned the performers!
This classic show is about Mrs. Dolly Gallagher Levi, a widowed matchmaker who has hooked everyone up except herself. I had never seen it before and I had not seen the movie so I was looking forward to being surprised and enjoying a new story. Considering Dolly is the central figure, way beyond the involvement of most theatrical protagonists, Clark Stevens (Director) had to find the right "Dolly" out of Winston Churchill's student body or pick a different show. I have no clue where Bianca Phipps came from, but I know where she's going! As the total package, Ms. Phipps owned the stage. I was sitting about five rows from the back but she pulled me into her spell through a powerful voice and the timing and facial expressions to impress some of the best stand-up comics in the country. I loved watching her do Dolly's business and I only wished I had the opportunity to see her performing again, but sadly, my time in San Antonio will come to an end too soon.
One performer I believe I might hear from again is Meredith Trapp. As the widowed Mrs. Irene Molloy, Ms. Trapp carried an already challenging vocal role that alone would have prevented the school's department of theater from pulling it off. There is no doubt in my mind that unless she was singing to someone else's recorded voice, (which I highly doubt) Meredith Trapp has the ability already to write her ticket. Besides doing proper homage to the role as an actor, Ms. Trapp's singing was trained, mature, healthy and shining! I've already picked out her next role (if she can find a place to perform it) as the Narrator in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." Of course, as talent is usually evident in multiple areas of those who are most talented, she is probably also a terrific student and would do just as well working towards a doctorate and finding a cure for cancer. Seriously though, I had one word for Meredith Trapp's performance - Awesome!
I could name others (so I will, it is my blog after all!) to include the perfectly poised antics of Michael Coyle and James Rodriquez as Cornelius and Barnaby, respectively, or the surprise stand out performance by Jacob Wagner as Horace Vandergelder (a role that didn't need to impress, but certainly did; Jacob, "Guys and Dolls" just called and they said you need to hurry up to make the 7:00 show!) It would be easy to add the tap dancing feats, the backstage "ballet" or the excellence in costuming to the long list of why I never never never (pun intended) wanted this show to end, but then I would never be able to sit down and write up this review.
Still, what stood out most to me was the team effort that was put forth by so many. Everybody involved gave it their all and the director made sure to include as many to the group of "Everybody" as possible. This is really what high school musicals should be about - the School! I couldn't help but feel the excitement and energy of seeing so many involved from so many departments. To this effect, the true star was Winston Churchill High School and I can't wait to see another show by this terrific team.
http://www.neisd.net/churchill/academics/fine%20arts/fine%20arts.html
