Freshman Musical, Sophomoric Humor

In his program notes, co-director Mathias F. E. Crawford ’05 writes that he tried “to stay away from attempts to make [the freshman musical] sound like an exercise in Tony award-winning Broadway theater.” That’s fortunate, for on such grounds, The Happy Few ranks as unsatisfactory in material and execution. Yet, as an experience for the staff, cast, crew and even audience, that’s not what the freshman musical has been about. And for a group of first-years getting together and putting on a production they constructed themselves, it’s not a bad way to pass an evening.

The basic plot of The Happy Few, book by Luke B. Hedrick ’05, revolves around Russ (Jonathan A. Weiss ’05) and his unnamed roommate, who is referred to as Cambridge (Josiah Pertz ’05). Why? Because a bum calls him that. Don’t ask.

It’s Friday night, and Russ wants to go out and have a good time, while Cambridge just wants to go home and go to bed. That not being an option for Russ, he finally convinces Cambridge to join him in his attempts to get into “the Cat,” the most prestigious final club of them all.

Aided by a Shakespeare-quoting bum, Hal (Joshua S. Stenberg ’05), Russ and Cambridge finally make it into the Cat, where, despite the distraction of several scantily clad Wellesley visitors (Rachel D. Galper ’05, Bethany A. Burum ’05 and Joshua S. E. Wright ’05), Russ runs into trouble with a dean’s daughter (Alix Hazel ’05).

All the participants of the party end up in front of the Administrative Board, thus providing the climax for the musical. Along the way, there is romance—and every theater cliché in the book.

Yet, the production remains fun and lively, managing to make fun of both Wellesley girls and the recent allegations of embezzlement at the Pudding.

The music, written by Robert M. Pennoyer ’05 and Matthew J. Corriel ’05, lends a definite boost to the production. The original music proves quite catchy, especially the opening number (“It’s Friday Night”) and “I’m a Wellesley Sister.”

Among the many eye-catching performances, a few are worthy of mention. Alison G. Giordano ’05, in her turn as Marcy, the Harvardian who has trouble snagging boys, possesses a remarkable bluesy voice that renders her the vocal standout.

Yuri Vedenyapin ’04 (a first-year at Harvard, despite his sophomore status) displays not only an acute comic sense as Dean Finkelstein , but also shows off ample skills as a guitarist.

Yet perhaps the most memorable performance belongs to Wright, who plays Bambi, the most conspicuous of the three Wellesley girls. With a perfect strut and sex appeal to spare, he has the makings of a future Miss Harvard.

Despite the many enjoyable performances, though, The Happy Few still feels somewhat unpolished and underrehearsed. Longer scenes seem as if they could benefit from an extra week of preparation: The final scene of act one particularly drags.

Yet even with that added running time, the musical still clocks in comfortably under three hours—a rarity for recent freshman musicals. With its light-hearted style and fun over-the-top performances, The Happy Few may not be sophisticated or even accomplished, but it doesn’t care. Ultimately, it just wants its audience to have a good time—and for the most part, it succeeds.

theater

The Freshman Musical: The Happy Few

Music by Robert M. Pennoyer ’05 and Matthew J. Coriel ’05

Book by Luke B. Hedrick ’05

Directed by Mathias F. E. Crawford ’05

Produced by Rebecca E. Rubins ’05

Agassiz Theater

April 18-21