Threepenny Opera continues this weekend with Friday and Saturday night performances and a Sunday matinee. It is being presented by Broadway director Eleanor Reissa and 51 Theater. Photo by Ashlee Eve ’14
With music, wit, and a little absurdity, 51 Theater opened its Threepenny Opera production in Brehmer Theater on Wednesday. The show, which runs through the weekend, is the story of criminal/hero MacHeath (Joshua Jackson ’13) and his marriage to Polly Peachum (Katie Sotos ’15), the daughter of greedy businessman Mr. Peachum (Denny Gonzalez ’13). Mr. Peachum and Mrs. Peachum (Elyse McGrath ’15) are not happy with MacHeath as a son-in-law and set out to have him hanged.
The story that follows is full of humor and absurdist twists including Peachum’s business being built on the best way to beg for money, the white text that appears above the actors’ heads like a Sparknotes summary of the plot, and the beggar Crook-Finger Jake’s (played by Corin Kinkhabwala ’13) leather cowboy costume.
Written in Germany in 1928 by Bertold Brecht, the musical was a form of protest for the poor German artists and asks questions about what is really right and wrong. The question “What is the killing of a man compared to the subjection of a man?” is repeated multiple times by different characters. The tongue-in-cheek humor and questions of how to maintain morality in modern society keep the play relevant today.
The show is of professional caliber. Broadway director Eleanor Reissa was director and choreographer, 51 professor Marjorie Kellogg worked on set design, Dianne Adams McDowell was musical director, and Vicki Davis was costume designer.
“Working with the students was extremely rewarding,” said Reissa, who had never directed a university show before. “They were open, fun, funny, and worked hard. I loved watching them grow and blossom. They taught me a lot.”
The feeling is mutual. “Working with Eleanor has had me leave each rehearsal drained, frustrated, exhausted, and wanting more,” Gonzalez said. “She has been a great teacher.”
A packed house of students, professors, and members of the community greeted the actors on their opening night. “It was great to support my friends and see them perform, but I also just really enjoyed the performance,” Lindsey Robertson ’13 said.
Threepenny Opera will be showing Friday, April 12, and Saturday, April 13 at 8 p.m. and April 14 at 2 p.m. in Brehmer Theater. Call 315-228-7639 or e-mail TheaterBoxOffice@colgate.edu to reserve free tickets.