In every way possible, University of Tampa’s performance of Falsettos was stunning. The casting was perfect, the costumes were incredible and the set design was both visibly appealing and highly versatile.
Director, cast and crew put 110 percent of themselves into this fantastic show, and their efforts did not go unnoticed. The audience erupted into applause after each song was finished and gave the performers a standing ovation.
Falsettos was entirely comprised of song—many filled with humor and sarcasm, others much more sentimental and serious. However, one did not notice that nothing was spoken because of each scene’s natural fluidity and exhilarating pace.
The story revolves around a Jewish man named Marvin, who leaves his wife and son for a man.
The antics and situations that ensue make-up the plot of the show.
The lyrics to the songs were hilarious and blunt, frequently alluding to stereotypical Jewish jokes.
The first song, titled “Four Jews in a Room Bitching,” set the tone for the majority of the musical.
“Four Jews in a room bitching.… I’m Jewish, I’m Jewish, I’m Jewish … half Jewish! Funny, funny, funny, funny …” The lyrics reflected the neurotic, cynical mood that many of the songs contained.
Another hilarious number called “I’m Breaking Down” was performed by senior Colleen Cherry who played Trina, Marvin’s ex-wife and mother of 12 year-old Jason, whose part was played by senior Meagan Nagy.
In “Breaking Down,” Cherry sang brilliantly as she violently chopped away at a merciless bushel of carrot sticks, releasing her anger towards her now openly-homosexual ex-husband.
She seemed to be circumcising each stick with an increasing amount of pleasure.
“He’s a queen; I’m a queen. Where is our crown? I’m breaking down; my life is s—– and my kid seems like an idiot to me.… I only want to love a man who can love me, or like me … or help me!”
“It was a wonderful experience,” said junior David Bevis, who played Whizzer, the dashing, fashionable gay man with a heart of gold.
“It really brought back the reality of life [that] we all sometimes forget. It reminded me to love and live life, yet, to still be safe.”
In a more somber, contemplative piece called “The Chess Game,” Whizzer sings with Marvin, Trina’s ex-husband and Whizzer’s new lover.
The men sing a moving duet in which the game of chess is an allegory for life. “Life’s a sham and every move is wrong,” the song said.
Whizzer’s character dies tragically in the end, losing his battle to AIDS and leaving a dark hole in the lives of all the characters in the show.
The cast was small, but packed a powerful punch. Gabe Saienni did a spectacular job playing Marvin, the character who the majority of the conflict centered around.
Zachary Hines kept everyone laughing with his over-the-top comedic role of Mendel, Marvin’s flirtatious shrink who eventually courts and marries Trina.
“I loved performing every night with such a talented cast,” said senior Bela Aquino. Aquino played Dr. Charlotte. Her lover Cordelia was played by junior Natalie Lopez.
The couple sang wonderfully together in all of their duets and created a believable, beautiful chemistry.
“I had a tremendous time working with students on such an important piece of theater,” said Director Karla Hartley.
“The most challenging obstacle was giving the actors a context for the work. They live in a time in which AIDS is not the terrifying unknown it was in 1979-1981,” Hartley said. “The late ‘70s and early ‘80s is the time-period in which the play is set.”
The actors displayed these feelings of terror and uncertainty with such an intense precision that the audience was moved to tears when Whizzer died in the end.
“The times and the uncertainty of them are integral to understanding how this play works,” said Hartley.
I give it two thumbs up. It was a spectacular production.
Sophie Erber can be reached at serber@spartans.ut.edu.