"Oliver!" with a twist

By Mary Alice Garrett

This story originally appeared April 5, 2001 in the News Journal of Wilmington, Delaware.

A British accent is sportingly stylish these days at Alexis I. du Pont High School.

The school's production of the musical 'Oliver!' on Friday and Saturday requires a big dose of it. In fact, keeping the cast in character may just be director Paul L. Parets' most difficult job.

"You guys are talking like 17-, 18-year-old teen-agers in a Delaware high school cafeteria," Parets said at a rehearsal of the show, which is based on Charles Dickens' classic "Oliver Twist." Parets reminded the young actors they were depicting characters from London's Victorian underworld.

Two who needed no prompting were Alexandra Kejner and Curtis Myrick, who play the parts of Nancy and Oliver. Alexandra, a senior, was a finalist in the English Speaking Union's Shakespeare Contest and is a veteran of area theater groups.

A junior, Curtis has performed with OperaDelaware, Chapel Street Players and Wilmington Drama League.

Alexandra easily executes her solo numbers, though she has had no vocal training. "I'm a shower singer," said the oboe player and lacrosse goalie, who plans to major in neuroscience and minor in music when she goes to college.

"This is basically my life," said Curtis, referring to rehearsals for the last two months. Besides performing, Curtis also helped build sets.

Half of the cast are from the A.I. band. "It helps to have a musical background," noted freshman Hillary Sophrin, clarinet player and member of the 15-member Londoner women's troupe. "I've always wanted to be in a musical," Hillary said. "I'm having a great time. I've met a lot of new people I wouldn't have met."

Acting is a new experience for Mykola Duffy (Fagin) and Mike Merritt (Artful Dodger). Mike is a varsity linebacker on A.I.'s football team and also a band manager. He always considered acting "basically a girl thing" until Parets approached him to audition. "I just decide to try out one day. I never thought I'd get a part this big."

At rehearsal, Parets went from one side of the stage to the other directing and singing along with the cast. When an actor got it right, he shouted, "Bingo! Now you're doing a good job. Just keep doing it."

As sophomore Andrew Camponelli (Sikes) finished a solo, Parets said, "You're the only person I know who sings off-key, but you make it work."

Andrew said later, "It's not really the best of compliments, but I'll take it."

Parets persuaded Vanessa Menzian as Widow Corney to stop sobbing "right in mid-sob."

Two A.I. graduates help with the production. E.C. Harmon III plays keyboard. He played tuba and bells in the band. Parets described him as "one of the best music students I ever taught." Harmon is now studying computer science at the Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston.

Joseph Lott, a student at Williams College in Williamstown, Mass., is helping with lighting. His father, Jeff, is technical director and set designer. Brother Michael, an A.I. sophomore, plays Mr. Sowerberry.

Parent Betty Stanton and Patricia Ford handle costumes. Stanton said it's been easy to find recycled "rags and tags" clothing for the production. Her daughter, sophomore Amanda, plays the milk maid. Husband Robert, an orthopedic surgeon, assisted Lott with sets. He also built a respectable wooden coffin, Betty Stanton added.

A 12-piece school musical group will make up a pit orchestra. Ten additional students work behind the scenes.

Parets last directed a musical, "My Fair Lady," at A.I in 1990. He's directed the A.I. band for 25 years. He said he selected "Oliver!" because it could be done on relatively short notice, plus, "It didn't require operatic voices." Two of the principal actors have experience, he noted. "The other kinds are rising to the occasion."

None of the cast or band members (or Parets) will have long to rest up, however; in just three weeks, the A.I. band will travel to Canada for the Toronto International Music Festival.