Drama Department’s ‘How To Succeed’ Proves A Success

By Susan Coney

Just another day at the office!

How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, geared to appeal to anyone who has ever worked in an office environment and even to those who have not, proved to be a success last weekend when Newtown High School musical theater brought it to the stage. The show contained all of the backstabbing, ambition, and greed that typically takes place in the business world and was presented in an exaggerated, comical style, making the show a hit with audiences.

The production portrays the story of J. Pierpont Finch, a young, ambitious New York City window washer, who with the help of an instructional handbook titled, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, rises through the ranks of the corporate ladder to become a major player in the World Wide Wicket Company.

Following two years of serious, historical Broadway classics, Les Miserables and Show Boat, How to Succeed provided a lighthearted breath of fresh air and it was clear by the performance that both cast and crew were having fun with the production. The NHS cast took the 1960s musical written by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock, and Willie Gilbert, with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser, and made it their own.

The production showcased the beautiful voices of the students in such songs as “The Company Way,” “A Secretary Is Not A Toy,” “Been A Long Day,” and “I Believe In You.”

The musical production of How To Succeed is based on a book written by Shepherd Mead. Mead based the book on his real life experience of beginning his career in the mailroom at Benton & Bowles, one of New York’s top ad agencies. Mead worked his way up in the company and was part of the advertising team that made famous such top selling products as Tide detergent and Crest toothpaste. While on vacation Mead wrote his landmark comic novel, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, and it proved to be such a hit it changed the course of his career and he became a writer.

The school production was directed by Newtown High School chemistry teacher Christian Canfield. Mr Canfield most recently came to Newtown after working at Nonnewaug High School where he directed five musicals. He had previously worked at Newtown Middle School where he directed plays from 1997 through 1999.

John Harned was the musical director for How To Succeed. He brings with him extensive training in musical theater, instrumental music, and choral music. Judy Abbatiello, founder and director of The Monroe Dance Academy, served as choreographer and Sarah Copeland provided the technical direction. Erin Thomas, a Newtown alumnus and recent Emerson College graduate, was in charge of creating the cartoonish sets.

For those in the audience thinking that the person doing the voice narration portion of the book sounded like someone familiar, it was the voice of Newtown’s own superintendent of schools, Evan Pitkoff. Mr Canfield asked Dr Pitkoff to do the voice narration because it would be fun to have a well-known local personality involved and his New York accent brought just the right touch to the part.

Junior Nathaniel Basch-Gould was extremely excited to earn the lead role as Finch in this spring’s production. Nathaniel told The Bee, “It’s such a fun part. I remember seeing the movie and I was ecstatic to get the part. Finch is such an energized, lively, and youthful guy and that’s what I loved about the part.”

Senior Samantha Mitchell played the part of Finch’s love interest, Rosemary Pilkington. She stated, “This is the best experience I could have asked for. I couldn’t have asked for a better farewell to my senior year. It’s been awesome.”

Melanie Beck, a senior who plans to go into musical theater, played the spunky, knowledgeable secretary Smitty. Melanie’s voice projected strong and clear and she fit the part well. Melanie said of her role, “Smitty’s more mature and edgy than the other girls and that adds a nice contrast to Rosemary. I have had fun with that.”

Greg Gordon played the role of J.B. Biggley, the ultimate boss everyone kissed up to. He said he was thrilled to be back on the high school stage for one final performance. Past stage credits for Greg include Show Boat and Les Miserables and he directed the fall production of A Thurber Carnival at the high school.

Senior Tory Marlin won the role of the ditzy, blonde gold-digging secretary Hedy LaRue. It was clear from her performance that Tory was having fun with the outrageous part. She said, “I have had so much fun playing a role like this; this is such a caricature. It’s fun to go with it and it’s so far from how I really am. It was a little difficult at first.” Tory said she especially liked using the heavy New York accent while playing the part.

Stephen Petrovich played Bud Frump, the conniving nephew of J.B. Biggley who tries to use family ties as a means to the top, but despite all efforts repeatedly gets beaten out by the well-liked Finch. Stephen provided over-the-top antics and it was clear he was enjoying his opportunity to shine on stage. He stated about the experience, “Frump is larger than life. He is a cartoon character and I never play him exactly the same way twice. It is wildly fun to play this part and I have had fun with it. This year’s play is not an epic piece; it’s just plain fun.”

Mr Canfield was candid in saying that at first the community was not receptive to his being the director of the production. “I was a bit taken aback by the powerful enthusiasm the students and community have for the school musical. I think some of the older cast members needed some time to get used to my style after having worked on such successful shows the past few years under Sabrina Post,” he said.

“Change is difficult for most people, particularly when it surrounds a program about which people have such passionate feelings. However, in my approach, I tried not to lose sight of the fact that the musical is an extra curricular activity, albeit one of very high quality,” he emphasized. “That said, I think all students involved in the production are pleased with how it has turned out and are excited to perform for an audience. We all hope it approaches the quality to which the Newtown community has become accustomed,” he said.

Mr Canfield said that it was an invigorating challenge to oversee the musical production at the high school. “I had never been presented with so many capable singers and actors as I saw here at Newtown; the talent pool is extensive. For example, there are several girls in the cast who had the singing prowess to have played the lead roles; it is a shame that the show did not offer more female roles.”

Speaking about the cast and crew, Mr Canfield beamed saying, “It has been a joy to watch these talented young people create their characters during the rehearsal process. Melanie Beck and Stephen Petrovich do a strong turn as the wise Smitty and the jealous, bullying Frump. Greg Gordon, a serious young man by day, shows keen comic timing as the boss, Mr Biggley, and Tory Marlin had the bombshell role as Hedy LaRue down pat at her audition. Nathaniel Basch-Gould did a masterful job of taking a character with questionable ethical behavior and turning him into a loveable hero for whom the audience can root. Samantha Mitchell in her first lead role at Newtown showed her lovely voice, which helped to convey an earnest, innocent sweetness to the role of Rosemary, Finch’s love interest.”

Mr Canfield went on to praise the hard work of musical director John Harned, as well as that of the orchestra, cast of the supporting roles, dancers, and the tireless crew. He stated that although an outside firm had to be hired to supplement the sound and lighting equipment, those professionals worked with the students and as a result sound, lighting design, and execution was done by the students.

He went on to say, “While there has been adult involvement throughout the process, each week, more and more responsibility was put on the students, to the point that, aside from Mr Harned’s conducting the pit orchestra, and the smattering of professionals hired to fill instrument gaps, what you saw at the high school was brought to you by the students. It is this of which I am most proud.”