Published: November 05, 2009 04:03 pm      

Captain Louie

Albion High School students perform new musical

ALBION — Albion High School will perform its take on the new musical, “Captain Louie,” over the weekend.

This is the story of a young boy, Louie, who finds himself unhappy because he doesn’t remember how to make friends after his family moves to a new home. With the help of his imagination, Louie goes back to his old neighborhood on Halloween night to visit friends.

“Wicked” composer Stephen Schwartz created the musical based on the children’s book “The Trip” by Ezra Jack Keats.

Director Gary Simboli said that performing an unknown musical has been great because the musical is open to interpretation, and they get to put their own creativity into it.

“When you’ve never seen it, you have nothing to compare it to,” Simboli said. “We all prefer it that way.”

He said they used the book to help create the sets for the show. He also took a new approach and let the small cast of 15 help with the production aspects.

“We turned the blocking and most of the choreography over to the kids,” said Simboli. “The production crew thought they needed to have a voice.”

The students worked together to decide how and where they thought their characters should move in a scene. Simboli said he thinks that helped them learn the music and choreography together, along with really becoming their characters.

“Mr. Simboli likes to try new things that keeps us going,” said co-director Kathy Wimans. “It’s a great musical, really sing-able.”

She said “Captain Louie” fits in with the character education message the Albion Central School District wants to get across to its students.

Twelfth-grader Samantha Kirby plays Roberta, one of Louie’s friends before he moved. “It’s the only part I’ve ever had that’s exactly like me,” she said.

Though she relates to the part, Kirby said there are still challenges she has faced.

“It is challenging because it’s children’s theater,” she said. “If you don’t play it right, then the kids don’t get it.”

Senior Joel Hurlbert has the role of Ziggy. Hurlbert describes his character as the gentle giant of the group. He said that Ziggy is the muscle but is also a big softy.

“I just enjoy playing a goofy little kid,” he said. “I always play the old villain, so it’s fun to be a little kid.”

“It’s a children’s musical, so it is really for them,” Hurlbert said. “But the adults will really like the score.”

Kirby, Hurlbert and sophomore Lucas Smith, who plays the title role of Captain Louie, all agree the music is the best part of the show.

“The music is amazing,” Smith said.

“Captain Louie” will be performed at 7 p.m. Friday and noon and 7 p.m. Saturday in the middle school auditorium. Tickets are $3 for adults and $2 for children.

Contact reporter Rikki Cason at 798-1400, ext. 8227.