With music, wit, and a little absurdity, พรพรสำฦต 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 โ13) and his marriage to Polly Peachum (Katie Sotos โ15), the daughter of greedy businessman Mr. Peachum (Denny Gonzalez โ13). Mr. Peachum and Mrs. Peachum (Elyse McGrath โ15) 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 Peachumโs business being built on the best way to beg for money, the white text that appears above the actorsโ heads like a Sparknotes summary of the plot, and the beggar Crook-Finger Jakeโs (played by Corin Kinkhabwala โ13) 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 โWhat is the killing of a man compared to the subjection of a man?โ 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, พรพรสำฦต professor Marjorie Kellogg worked on set design, Dianne Adams McDowell was musical director, and Vicki Davis was costume designer.
โWorking with the students was extremely rewarding,โ said Reissa, who had never directed a university show before. โThey were open, fun, funny, and worked hard. I loved watching them grow and blossom. They taught me a lot.โ
The feeling is mutual. โWorking with Eleanor has had me leave each rehearsal drained, frustrated, exhausted, and wanting more,โ Gonzalez said. โShe has been a great teacher.โ
A packed house of students, professors, and members of the community greeted the actors on their opening night. โIt was great to support my friends and see them perform, but I also just really enjoyed the performance,โ Lindsey Robertson โ13 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.