'Me and My Girl' Offers New Set of Musical Challenges for WDHS

How do you follow Les Miserables?

If you’re vocal director William Yerkes, you go in a completely different direction, shifting from the dark drama of French revolutionaries to a comic take on British aristocracy with this year’s show, Me and My Girl.

It was a decision made not just to give high school performers a well-rounded experience, Yerkes said, but to take advantage of some of the strengths of his cast, which he said is stuffed with natural comedians.

“Just the way they are every day off the stage is funny, so I knew they could handle a comedy,” he said. “It’s perfect for the talent we have right now.”

It’s something the students themselves recognize, and said is a key part of making the show work.

“Everybody in it is hilarious, and it’s a funny show, so it suits us,” senior Kelsie Casazza said.

And it’s humor that still appeals today, despite the show’s age—the first performances were in 1937—which senior Denny Summerville said is just as important.

“It’s universally funny—anyone can watch this and still find the humor,” he said.

The show follows Bill Snibson, played by Summerville, as he goes from working class Londoner to the next Earl of Hareford, a transition made even more difficult by his working-class girlfriend, Sally Smith, played by Casazza.

The culture shock on both sides—both from the aristocrats at the invasion of their world by Snibson’s Cockney roots, as well as Snibson’s difficulty trying to adjust to his inheritance—makes for plenty of situational humor, Summerville said.

“He’s just clearly not right for it,” Summerville said.

While the show might not have the gravitas of Les Miz, it comes with its own set of challenges, as Yerkes pointed out. Students had to learn accents for their roles, and the show is packed with dancing—something that wasn’t a factor last year.

“Not many of us are dance extraordinaires,” Summerville said.

One thing that’s helped in focusing the performers has been Yerkes’ requirement that everyone—from the ensemble cast to the principals—put together a character analysis, to better understand who it is they’re playing. For some students—those in the ensemble, primarily—that means creating a character from scratch.

That keeps them grounded and makes them better understand how they fit within the larger cast, Yerkes said.

“When they’re all on stage, they have a purpose, and they know why they’re there,” he said.

The students said it’s been a valuable experience, as well.

“After reading the script and learning who Sally is, it’s just been a great experience to take over this role,” Casazza said.

And this show offers the chance to play more with the characters, Summerville said.

“Not everything has to be so serious…you have the room to improvise,” he said. “It’s definitely a lot of fun.”

Me and My Girl opens Friday night at 7:30, with performances Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Advance tickets are still available, and can be purchased at the high school lobby tonight for $10. Tickets at the door are $15.