By SUZANNE MOORE
PLATTSBURGH — Tyler Rebello wasn't too sure about the choice for Plattsburgh State's musical this year.
Though "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, among other awards, it first hit the stage back in 1961.
"And sometimes older shows aren't so comical," said the Plattsburgh State theater major, who plays male lead J. Pierpont Finch.
He quickly set aside those reservations. And after six weeks of rehearsal, "I still laugh at the jokes, constantly," he said. "It's a blast."
The role of Finch is also Rebello's largest thus far at Plattsburgh State.
"There's a ton of dialogue," he said. "And the character is so intricate."
J. Pierpont Finch is a window washer who, following the advice of a book called "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," sets out to climb the corporate ladder of a firm called World Wide Wicket Company. The bottom rung is the mail room, where Finch meets a pretty secretary named Rosemary Pilkington, played by theater major Antonette Knoedl.
"She's absolutely fantastic," Rebello said. "She's so much fun and such a bright personality.
"The banter between us is so playful and cute.
"In fact," he added, "the entire cast has such a wonderful chemistry."
ECLECTIC SCORE
All students, the cast of 24 was chosen from about 45 who auditioned last semester. While many are music or theater majors, said stage director Kim Hartshorn, others are new to the stage. Rehearsals began Jan. 26, continuing five nights a week. Last week, it was stepped up to six.
"You encourage them to clear their schedules, but it's very difficult for college students," Hartshorn said.
Director of the last four musicals and various plays at Plattsburgh State, he also designed the set, which features elevator doors that open and close.
"We try to challenge ourselves," he said, "try a little bit of stage craft (we've) been wanting to try.
"I think it benefits the show and benefits the students."
Theater major Caleb Newell did the light design.
"He did a really good job," Hartshorn said.
A couple of dozen musicals were considered for this year's show, he said, with an eye toward choosing one with a significant number of roles fairly evenly divided between men and women.
"How to Succeed," by Frank Loesser and Abe Burrows, at first read seemed rather dated, Hartshorn said.
"But the more we read and listened to the music, the more it grew on us."
SHOWSTOPPER
Music Director Timothy Morningstar appreciates the eclectic score, which offers a little something for everyone, he said.
"Some old-time Vaudeville, patriotic marches, a cha cha in 'Coffee Break,'" he said. "'Brotherhood of Man' "¦ is a hand-clapping, foot-stomping song.
"There are Latin dance rhythms and modern jazz."
"We have a great orchestra, led by Herm Matlock," Hartshorn said.
Morningstar chose to include the song "Cinderella Darling," which had premiered with the show on Broadway but was not included with subsequent revivals "because it was considered a little too chauvinistic," he said.
The classic Broadway, up-tempo number encourages Rosemary to marry Finch, "contrary to the typically 'I am woman, hear me roar.'
"(But) it's a great musical number," Morningstar said.
Knoedl's favorite song in the musical isn't one she sings, but the men's choir's "I Believe in You."
"It's a showstopper," she said.
Knoedl came to auditions with some prior knowledge of "How to Succeed," for her father, Barry, had directed a high-school production of the show back home on Long Island some years earlier.
"I was very young at the time," she said. "So the first thing I did (when the choice of musical was announced) was call home, ask my father, 'How is the show?," 'What's it like?' He said I would have a great time with it."
That's just what happened, an outcome assisted from the start by the already existing friendship between Knoedl and her leading man.
"It made falling into the relationship and our characters a lot easier," she said. "We didn't have to work on getting comfortable with each other — because there's a big kiss scene."
There's been a whole collegial atmosphere as more experienced performers have supported those new to the stage, Morningstar said. And while he's had to explain some of the more dated jokes to the young cast, he's sure the humor and the memorable music will make "How to Succeed" a hit in Plattsburgh.
"Even though it's a show not a lot of people know, it is a show where you walk out humming," he said. "When you leave, you'll definitely be singing 'Brotherhood of Man.'"
E-mail Suzanne Moore at: smoore@pressrepublican.com
