Magicians, mimes, marionettes, and a general assortment of clowns and jesters adorned Yorktown High School's auditorium this past weekend while popcorn and cotton candy festooned the lobby.
No, it was not a county fair: this delightful arrangement was part of Yorktown's charming production of the musical "Carnival!" With music and lyrics by Bob Merrill, and based on the movie Lili, this show was a hit during the ‘60s but remains timeless, as proven by Yorktown's cast and crew.
Lili is an innocent orphan looking for a job when she wanders wide-eyed into a carnival and is soon beguiled by Marco the magician, a notorious womanizer. The puppeteer Paul Berthalet, a dancer with a crippled leg, genuinely cares for Lili, and although his bitterness and resentment make him openly cruel, he reveals his inner tenderness, vulnerability, and love to Lili through his marionettes.
In a directorial twist, three different actresses play Lili. Jenna Allan is successfully sweet and naïve; Amy Lunde steps in capably when Lili becomes more mature. Katie R. Foster plays the grown-up Lili with conviction and sincerity.
Jono Fallone touchingly portrays the complexities of Paul; his severity is heartbreaking, and each emotion is thoroughly felt. Malika Bouhdili is Rosalie, Marco's jealous but needy mistress. Her strong, brassy voice is showcased in the hilarious number, "Humming." Marco himself is suave and sophisticated as played by Kyle Meikel.
Paul's puppets, an integral part of the show, are played by live actors. These six actors, with their phenomenal physicality and mask work, are quite convincing and certainly make the "puppetry" one of the most captivating aspects of this show. Operating the puppets alongside Paul is his assistant Jacquot, vibrantly played by Julia Collins, whose melodious voice is accompanied by lively movements.
The set, props, and costumes in this production were very attractive and eclectic, although standing microphones impeded some sight lines. Extensive spotlighting occasionally distracted and the score sometimes taxed the actors' voices, but the combination of drama and comedy in this show remained strong, making for an enjoyable evening.
From lovers to jugglers to marionettes, Carnival! has all the ingredients of an irresistibly delightful musical, and Yorktown High School's performance is full of charm and appeal.