Theater Review: 'The Drowsy Chaperone, Jr.' by Beman Drama Club

Review (by invitation) written by Connecticut Critics Circle member Nancy Sasso Janis

The Beman Drama Club presented a fun production of “The Drowsy Chaperone, Jr. A Musical Within A Comedy” this weekend on their stage at Beman Middle School in Middletown. The four completely student run performances delighted the parents and friends that came out to support the young performers.

The junior version of “Drowsy” has music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison, and a book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar.

The virtual program offers a good synopsis of the show. “The show begins with a die-hard theatre fan sitting in his living room, feeling a bit “blue, To cheer himself up, he plays his favorite record: the cast recording of a fictitious 1928 musical called The Drowsy Chaperone…Through a series of hilarious mix-ups, roller-skating mishaps, show-stopping numbers, the characters navigate the mayhem of the Golden Age of musical theatre to find their ‘happily ever after.’”

If this all sounds like a challenge to bring to the stage, the students and their director rose to every challenge.

Kaylin Tulley served as director of the production with the help of Robert Schulenburg as the student director. Ms. Tulley doubled as music director and Jacob Lee worked as the show’s choreographer, with Alyssa Rose as the student choreographer.

Ms. Tulley notes in her director’s note that “this year has been, quite honestly, exhausting–but it has also been profoundly worth it. Seeing the ownership these students have taken over the program has been my greatest reward.”

The key cast was composed of performers aged 11, 12, and 13 working hard at their craft. Schulenburg took on the role of Man in the (red upholstered) Chair in addition to his role as a director. This is a young man that will go far.

Asher Tredwell was able to shine in the role of Underling, with Daniella Mastrocola donning the “Fancy Dress” to play the dim Mrs. Tottendale. Jackson Cohen played the dashing groom Robert Martin and Adele Slayton played the beautiful “Show Off,” Janet Van De Graaff, with a wonderful singing voice. Ajax Grant did very well in the role of George, the best man.

Victor Lopez Alvarez played the producer Victor Feldzeig and Izabella Ayala adopted the high-pitched voice of Kitty. Brielle Walcott dropped the cane in the role of Adolpho and Faith Aiken showed off her singing “pipes” in the role of Trix, the aviatrix, in “I Do, I Do In The Sky,” Madeline Corbin and Seren Soley shared the role of Chaperone (“As We Stumble Along.”)

The duo that stole the show were Sidney Henry and Mason White as the gangsters posing as pastry chefs. The two nailed their very funny lines and the physical comedy in their characters.

The cast and crew were clearly well-rehearsed, but the closing performance included a missed entrance that was covered beautifully by Man and the Pastry Chefs with some funny ad libs. These are the marks of up-and-coming pros.

There were two ensembles that appeared as servers, pastry chefs, party guests, reporters and featured dancers. The students nicely filled the stage for the production numbers. Notably, there was a complete understudy cast just in case. The performers were supported by a group of students that worked on set/props, lighting, sound, costumes, makeup/SFX and media. The students sang along to recorded musical tracks. The great props/set pieces included a hifi record player, the large fridge, a beaded lamp and a great pink chaise. Ms. Tulley designed the adorable set that filled the stage.

The Jr. version of “Drowsy” contains almost all of the scenes from the original. It seemed that some of Man’s lines had been shortened, but not by much.

Kudos to Judy Kalinowski was in charge of the fun costume design and Dylan Burger worked on hair and makeup design. Lighting (sometimes rainbow) and sound design was the work of Simone Hightower, and both worked very well.

The student leadership of the drama club include President Adele Slayton, VP Madeline Corbin, Secretary Anna Santanelli and Stage Managers Amiyah Bonilla Rodriguez, Audriana Vollono and Stella Moore.

At the two closing performances, Ms. Tulley and two adult members of the production team honored the eighth-grade students that will be moving up to the high school next year with a heartfelt acknowledgement and a red rose. Congratulations to the middle school students and the adults that work with them on an enjoyable production.