Do you want to see Jesuit, Ursuline and other schools’ students sing, dance and have a blast on the stage? Then come out and see “Crazy for You” by the Ursuline Theatre Program next week! The students have rehearsed constantly since winter break, learning their lines, songs, dances and the story of the show so that you can enjoy a classic musical.
The plot line of “Crazy for You” was adapted from Ken Ludwig’s musical “Girl Crazy” by George and Ira Gershwin and was made popular on Broadway in 1992, featuring Harry Groener as Bobby and Jodi Benson as Polly. The show features many well-known, wonderful musical numbers including: “Embraceable You,” “Tonight’s the Night,” “I got Rhythm,” and “They Can’t Take That Away from Me.”
The story begins with a family of bankers in New York City, whose son, Bobby Child, played by Jesuit’s own Denis Alexander ’14, has been assigned to reclaim a theatre in Nevada that is behind on its mortgage payments. Before he leaves, Bobby attempts an audition in front of a Hungarian theatre owner Bella Zangler, played by Cistercian’s Chris Vernino, which, unfortunately, does not end well and Bobby does not get the part.
Once he arrives in Deadrock, Nevada, we see that the town is full of “singing cadavers,” a group of lazy cowboys, and run-down buildings, providing a pathetic first impression for the audience. After a strenuous hike from the train station, Bobby collapses from exhaustion and dehydration at the feet of a local woman by the name of Polly Baker, played by Ursuline’s Kelsey Korman, and instantly falls helplessly in love with her.
Later, when Bobby regains his strength in the local saloon, owned by Lank Hawkins, played by Jack Mason ’16, “proprietor of said establishment,” he finally meets the tired old cowboys and denizens that populate the town. Unfortunately for him, Bobby wakes up in the midst of a full-blown bar brawl ending in a “shooting,” which happens to be “Lank’s idea to bring in the tourists.”
After the cowboys clean up their mess, Polly visits the saloon and helps to rehabilitate the odd newcomer by walking him around the saloon, only to be thanked with a surprise kiss. A few broken bottles and laughs later, Bobby has woken up completely and begins to conjure a scheme to save the very theatre that he was sent to condemn.
Eventually, Bobby decides to dress up as Bella Zangler, the theatre owner seen at the beginning who is still in New York, and summon his friends the “Zangler Follies” to put on a show in Deadrock. Even the lazy old cowboys get in on the action in the insane musical number leading up to “Zangler’s” arrival. Naturally, “Zangler” has the Follies girls try to train the cowboys, played by Gino Piamonte ‘15, Aiden Leahy ‘16, and Alex Magee ‘15, to dance in the upcoming show to save the theatre, but it soon becomes apparent that the cowboys need a lot more practice than Bobby anticipated.
Throughout the next few scenes, they can be seen slowly learning to dance and honing their singing abilities. One cowboy in particular, “Moose,” is singled out by “Zangler” and cut from the dances, only to be consoled with a stand-up bass to play in a short and catchy musical number “Slap that Bass.” Through the end of act one and into act two, the cast continues to rehearse the dances and songs while romance blossoms between “Zangler” and Polly and certain other characters. On the day of the first show, the cast gathers around the train station and greets the only guests, an English couple, Eugene and Patricia Fodor. Also, the real Zangler arrives just in time for the end of the act one finale.
Act two begins with another bout of a protracted argument between Lank and Everett Baker, played by Alexander Davis ’13, over the ownership of the saloon and theatre. After this, the real Zangler and lead Folly girl Tess argue about him producing another attempt at the fundraising musical. Stressed as a result of Zangler’s stubbornness, Tess accepts an invitation from a cowboy to “have a drink” only to begin another, more elaborate, fake bar fight which, as Billy says, was “looking better,” referencing the original act one bar fight.
Following this event, the real Zangler drinks in the saloon to drown his depression until he passes out, while Bobby, mourning the loss of Polly’s affection, also falls victim to bottomless refills. In the morning, they both wake up dressed as Zangler, causing serious confusion. Eventually, Bobby overcomes his hangover enough to attend a town-wide meeting to decide the fate of their show. Even after a rousing speech from the Fodors, the town, distraught after their failed show, gives up show business and closes the theatre.
However, the town eventually comes around under the guidance of the real Zangler and again attempts to put on the show. But Bobby has returned to New York, missing the rehearsals, and does not know about the second show. Of his own accord, Bobby has a change of heart and drags his mother back to Deadrock to meet Polly and receive her approval. And, after a back and forth chase between Bobby and Polly, the couple meets again and regains their lost love, and, thanks to Zangler, they finally put on a show with an audience, concluding the show.
At Jesuit, we take pride in our sports teams and dramatic, and comedic, theatre but what about the musical Rangers, those who can dance and act simultaneously? Denis, a Jesuit junior, is currently in the choir and can be heard performing at many prayer services and liturgies. He also occasionally takes part in Jesuit theatre and is very dedicated to not only performing in the musicals, but also assisting the rest of the cast with learning lines, dances and overcoming nerves about the upcoming show.
The actors in the show enjoy the “great full-cast musical numbers, ‘Slap that Bass’ and ‘Stiff Upper Lip.’” Denis Alexander commented that the reason for everyone to come see the show is that it is “something that we don’t get to see at Jesuit and [the musical] only happens once a year.” The final rehearsals are hinting at a great, fun show, so buy your tickets before they are gone!
