Every January for more than 5o years, people in the University of Chicago community have tried to lighten winter’s bleakness with a musical revue. For many years, the witty Robert Ashenhurst and Ned Rosenheim provided words and music in a Noel Coward/academic vein. More recently, Andy Austen, by day ABC-TV’s courtroom artist, by night a playwright, has written scripts that are both clever and charming–and often very funny.
We’re lucky to have the talent in the community to make it a good show, even though the stage is tiny. Sara Stern is an exceptional actor and takes a leading role; Dr. Philip Hoffman, a senior oncologist, plays a wealthy society matron, and musicologist Noel Taylor pulls it all together in only 4 weeks of rehearsals.
It’s one of my pleasures to take part as well, and over the last five years, my character –whether an evilly scheming Morgan LaFey or a stern police officer–sings an aria that proves she has more ambition than skill. This year, I play a fundraiser with a recalcitrant daughter and my aria, sung to the tune of Habanera, is a paean to “L’argent!” (L’argent stays true when lovers flee/when kids behave to you ungratefully…)
The show takes place in the Quadrangle Club and is open to the public; details below.
P.S. Thanks for all the wonderful title suggestions. I’m sifting through them as I work on rewrites!
