“Thoroughly Modern Millie” Shines at PaliHi

Going to see a high school musical is not where one would expect to see major talent or be wowed by the singing and choreography, but the production of ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie’ at Palisades Charter High School does both. Go see these cast members now, so that you can tell people that you saw them before they became famous. Based on the 1967 film, ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie’ opened on Broadway in 2002 and won six Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The music, by Jeanine Tesori with lyrics by Dick Scanlan, has a book by Richard Morris and Scanlan. Set in 1922, ‘Millie’ commences with Millie Dillmount leaving Salina, Kansas, to come to New York City and become a flapper. She plans to marry her boss for his money, because marrying for love is old-fashioned. After Millie’s purse and a shoe are stolen, she runs into a young man on the street, Jimmy Smith, who advises her to go back to Kansas. Determined to follow her plan, she instead finds a place to stay at a hotel where most of the young women are aspiring actresses. These women are unaware that the unsavory owner of the establishment, Mrs. Meers, kidnaps young orphan girls and sells them to a white slavery ring in Southeast Asia. Meers’ two in-house workers, Ching Ho and Bun Foo, are forced to do her bidding because they are trying to make money to bring their mother to the U.S. from China. On short notice, Millie finds a job and sets her sights on marrying her boss, Mr. Trevor Graydon III, who is unaware of her feminine qualities; he calls her ‘John.’ But Millie falls in love with Smith, whom she thinks is penniless. So she tries to reconcile her head with her heart. The course of love never runs smoothly in musicals, so Millie’s new best friend, Miss Dorothy, and Millie’s boss fall in love. Unfortunately, Mrs. Meers finds out that Dorothy is an orphan, and it seems that the unlucky girl is on her way out of the country. It is hard to signal out just two or three performers in ‘Millie’ because there are so many exceptional performances. Playing Millie is Mia Canter, whose exuberance and lovely voice fills the room. Her love interest, Smith, played by Ryan Steinberg, takes command of the stage. His voice is perfect for the male lead. Lorin Doctor, who plays Smith’s stepmother, Muzzy Van Hosmere, sings two solos, and both are show-stoppers. The warm edges of the songs delivered by Doctor curl up into the corners of the auditorium. Paul Miller, as Graydon III, sings one of the show’s nicest duets with Elizabeth Rich (Miss Dorothy). Both have incredible stage presence. And just when you think the show cannot get any better, the talented Christie Pryor (Mrs. Meers) and her associates, Michael Jones (Ching Ho) and Anthony Iglesias (Bun Foo), throw themselves into their parts with crowd-pleasing gusto. The support cast is top-notch and the student orchestra plays with finesse, rounding out a production of Broadway caliber. An enthusiastic audience gave the cast a standing ovation on opening night. Special nods go to director Monica Iannessa, choreographer Monique Smith, musical director Terry Henderson, and vocal director Josh Elson, for putting on a high-quality show in what is basically a multi-purpose room (Mercer Hall). This production is further evidence that this community needs a state-of-the-art performing center. At intermission, Iannessa apologized to the audience for technical glitches that had nothing to do with the tech crew, but rather with a facility that was never meant to be a theater. Occasionally, microphones would blow out and then come back on and lights would die, and somebody would instantly throw another one on. The performers took it all in stride and didn’t miss a beat. Even with cushioned folding chair seats, it is a crime to have to sit and watch such a good show this way. In addition, the orchestra ‘pit’ is actually to the left side of the stage, and instead of having their space, the band members become part of the audience. With such outstanding student talent at Palisades High, in a town that is home to numerous movie stars and leaders in the film, television and recording industry, it is a disgrace that we lack a large performing arts facility. Such a wonderful show, with its outstanding performances, deserves a better space. The remaining performances of ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie’ are tonight, Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. Tickets at the door: $10. Reserved seats are $15.