No one can say that the arts aren’t flourishing in our area!

In last week’s Marysville Advocate there were numerous stories about the various arts activities occurring in our county: MHS high school play, MJHS junior high musical, MACT’s spring play, David Basse’s concert, etc. I think that’s impressive!

While watching “Marshall County Live,” the concert between the MHS and VHHS bands and David Basse, I was touched by the talent of our young musicians. These budding musicians accompanied a top-notch jazz singer … and did an AWESOME job! Not only was it rewarding to watch the kids take pride in their performance, it was also stimulating to watch the crowd. People were smiling … and clapping … and I even saw a couple of people wipe tears from their eyes as they sat back and absorbed the splendor of the show.

After the concert, a couple of parents talked to me about the impact the concert had on them. One noted, “We’ve been attending a lot of basketball games this past week … and we’ve lost all of them. It’s nice to come to this concert and walk away feeling like a winner.”

That’s the beauty of the arts — everyone wins. There are no losers … only winners … because the arts are alive for everyone.

Victor Blecharczyk believes he has his dream role in M-ACT’s upcoming comedy Lend Me a Tenor.  “I am notorious for not getting my lines learned quickly!  As the bellhop, I only have a couple of lines and everything I do is supposed to be funny.  Who could ask for a better gig?”

Blecharczyk has provided the comic relief for a number of shows since he began performing with Marysville Area Community Theatre in their first musical, Oklahoma, 25 years ago.

“Yeah, fluff out his hair, turn him loose, and step back,” said Director Carla Wolfe, “You know what WC Fields said about never working with children or animals—because they will steal the scene.  Well, the same thing happens when Vic makes an entrance.  It’s like the audience is waiting to see what he will do next!”

Although Belcharczyk’s comic antics may be the draw for many theatre-goers, there is much more to recommend Lend Me a Tenor which will be performed Friday and Saturday evenings, March 7 and 8 at 7:30 and Sunday afternoon, March 9, at 2:00 pm.

Scott Shimizu, of Fullerton, CA describes the plot this way:  “Imagine that your fiancée is in love with another man, you can’t overcome your nerves to show the world your talent, and you’ve accidentally killed the greatest opera star that ever lived.  So goes the life of Max (played by John Bannister).  For Max, life was already hard enough. His would-be fiancée Maggie (Pat Breeding) desires one more fling, his uptight boss Saunders (Wayne Kruse) constantly berates him, and the world remains ignorant of his ability to sing - mainly because he tenses up whenever he tries. But when Tito Morelli, the famous Italian opera star (Greg Marples), arrives, Max’s world is turned upside down. Tito teaches Max to relax, allowing Max to finally sing the way he always desired. When Tito is knocked unconscious by a double dose of sedatives, Max must perform for him.”
“With seven Tony Award nominations, Lend Me a Tenor, written by Ken Ludwig, is a hilarious, wild romp of mistaken identities, desperate measures and compromising positions set in the delightful period of the 1930’s.”

This play contains some adult content which might not be suitable for young children.

And if you love opera, you’ll still love this show. The final show of M-ACT’s 25^th Anniversary Season, Lend Me a Tenor, will be performed March 7, 8,& 9, in the Marysville High School Auditorium.

Veteran comic actors will keep audiences laughing at this farce making fun of the efforts of the Cleveland Grand Opera Company’s efforts to host a gala fundraiser that should raise $50,000 for their company. Unfortunately, their guest performer, the world famous tenor Tito Morelli—known to his fans as “Il Stupendo” and played by Greg Marples–does not make it out of his hotel room. A Dear John letter mistaken as a suicide note makes his appearance seem unlikely. Henry Saunders, general manager of the opera company, played by Wayne Kruse, firmly believes that “the show must go on!” and seeks a replacement for the famous tenor to send onstage in disguise. As luck would have it, the only substitute that can be found is Max, Saunders’s assistant, played by John Banister, who claims he can pull of the switch. Chaos ensues as a series of misunderstandings keep everyone confused.

The cast is rounded out by Vic Blecharczyk (The Bellhop), Pat Breeding (Maggie, Max’s girlfriend and Saunders’s daughter), Pam White (Maria, Tito’s wife), Carla Wolfe (Diana, a soprano with the company) , and Barb Buck (Julia, chair of the opera guild).

“Audiences won’t want to miss this uproarious comedy. Anyone who enjoys a story with disguises, romance, star-struck fans, bad singing, and mistaken identities will love this one,” said Director Carla Wolfe.