Students perform a day 'on the town'
Casey Falotico
Issue date: 10/9/08 Section: Features
Last update: 10/8/08 at 10:23 PM EST
How much trouble can three sailors in New York get into within 24 hours? Plenty.
In Duquesne's Spotlight Musical Theatre Company's fall musical On the Town, Gabey, Chip and Ozzie are on leave from the navy and have just one day to spend in New York City - and they don't intend to waste any of their precious time.
It all starts with a poster hanging in the subway. Every month, an average woman chosen to be "Miss Turnstiles" has her picture appear in the subway station. This month, the lucky lady is Ivy Smith. Gabey quickly falls for the elusive Miss Turnstiles when the three sailors stumble upon the poster, and the hopelessly lovesick Gabey spends his day desperately searching for her.
While trying to help Gabey in his pursuit, Chip, who wants to see the tourist attractions the city has to offer, gets sidetracked by a lady cab driver named Hildy who takes him on a somewhat misguided tour of the city. And Ozzie finds himself "carried away" by Claire, a scientist with an obsession for men.
On the Town, which was made into a 1949 movie starring Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra, is littered with colorful song-and-dance numbers. The score, by Leonard Bernstein (with lyrics by Betty Comden), serves up catchy songs, like "New York, New York," which will leave you humming for the rest of the evening.
Another musical high point is the slightly desperate but undeniably funny song, "Come Up to My Place," in which Hildy makes a relentless effort to get a perplexed Chip - you guessed it - up to her place.
Freshman Seth Laidlaw conveys a dreamy-eyed innocence as Gabey, and Jeff Way plays the high-strung but loveable Chip. David Ford, as the animated Ozzie, will definitely show audience members a great time: his quips and facial expressions are scene-stealing.
As for the ladies, Natalie Gornick is charming as the ambitious, yet demure Ivy Smith, and Haley Koontz Donohue brings to life the bold and brassy Hildy. Not to be forgotten is the forcefully cerebral, yet irresistibly impulsive Claire, played by Amber Williams.
A real highlight of the production is Joyce Hinnebusch, who portrays the delightfully-soused performing arts instructor Madame Dilly. Hinnebusch's spirited antics are well worth the price of admission.
The relatively simple set revolves around imagery of New York City, with a skyline and taxi, and continues to bring the attention back to the city and its appeal. Much of New York City's hustle and bustle is left to the imagination of the audience, but the colorful costumes that adorn a colorful ensemble help to fill in the blanks.
On the Town will run this weekend, Oct. 9-11, and next, Oct. 16-18, in the Peter Mills Theater in Rockwell Hall.
In Duquesne's Spotlight Musical Theatre Company's fall musical On the Town, Gabey, Chip and Ozzie are on leave from the navy and have just one day to spend in New York City - and they don't intend to waste any of their precious time.
It all starts with a poster hanging in the subway. Every month, an average woman chosen to be "Miss Turnstiles" has her picture appear in the subway station. This month, the lucky lady is Ivy Smith. Gabey quickly falls for the elusive Miss Turnstiles when the three sailors stumble upon the poster, and the hopelessly lovesick Gabey spends his day desperately searching for her.
While trying to help Gabey in his pursuit, Chip, who wants to see the tourist attractions the city has to offer, gets sidetracked by a lady cab driver named Hildy who takes him on a somewhat misguided tour of the city. And Ozzie finds himself "carried away" by Claire, a scientist with an obsession for men.
On the Town, which was made into a 1949 movie starring Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra, is littered with colorful song-and-dance numbers. The score, by Leonard Bernstein (with lyrics by Betty Comden), serves up catchy songs, like "New York, New York," which will leave you humming for the rest of the evening.
Another musical high point is the slightly desperate but undeniably funny song, "Come Up to My Place," in which Hildy makes a relentless effort to get a perplexed Chip - you guessed it - up to her place.
Freshman Seth Laidlaw conveys a dreamy-eyed innocence as Gabey, and Jeff Way plays the high-strung but loveable Chip. David Ford, as the animated Ozzie, will definitely show audience members a great time: his quips and facial expressions are scene-stealing.
As for the ladies, Natalie Gornick is charming as the ambitious, yet demure Ivy Smith, and Haley Koontz Donohue brings to life the bold and brassy Hildy. Not to be forgotten is the forcefully cerebral, yet irresistibly impulsive Claire, played by Amber Williams.
A real highlight of the production is Joyce Hinnebusch, who portrays the delightfully-soused performing arts instructor Madame Dilly. Hinnebusch's spirited antics are well worth the price of admission.
The relatively simple set revolves around imagery of New York City, with a skyline and taxi, and continues to bring the attention back to the city and its appeal. Much of New York City's hustle and bustle is left to the imagination of the audience, but the colorful costumes that adorn a colorful ensemble help to fill in the blanks.
On the Town will run this weekend, Oct. 9-11, and next, Oct. 16-18, in the Peter Mills Theater in Rockwell Hall.
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