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Campy musical Cry-Baby for Pinetree

The cast in Pinetree secondary school’s musical admits this winter production is a complete 180 from last year — and even quite a twist from the year before that.
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Grade 12 students Marley Jordan and Alexandra Haagen (front) join Briana Chamberlin, Alexys Murphy and Doryen Diaz on stage this and next month for the musical Cry-Baby, directed by Natalee Fera.

The cast in Pinetree secondary school’s musical admits this winter production is a complete 180 from last year — and even quite a twist from the year before that.

In 2016, Treehouse Theatre showcased their talents in the Disney hit High School Musical, a fun (but squeaky clean) romp that followed the new girl in town.

Up next was the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic, The Sound of Music — a favourite that got the audience singing along with the Von Trapp family and others.

For 2018, though, musical theatre students and director Natalee Fera sifted through scripts and settled on a catchy but wacky musical based on John Waters’ 1990 flick.

Cry-Baby, a campy teen musical/romantic comedy movie that starred Johnny Depp as a 1950s bad ass in Baltimore, was rewritten as a rockabilly by the same people who also adapted Waters’ film Hairspray; like the movie, Cry-Baby: The Musical centres on Allison Vernon-Williams, a prim and proper girl who’s attracted to Wade “Cry-Baby” Walker.

Marley Jordan, 17, who is cast as Lenora Frigid and also swoons for Cry-Baby, played Brigita Von Trapp in The Sound of Music and a cheerleader in High School Musical.

“What we’re doing this year is a complete reversal from last year,” she said, spinning her finger around, “but we’re so proud because it’s our last one and it’s going to be so fun.”

Indeed, the songs stick in your head. Jordan, who helped choreograph the steps with Cry-Baby lead actor Gregory Jungco as well as Fera, has a solo titled Screw Loose.

Allison, portrayed by Alexandra Haagen, 17, also has duets with her amour Cry-Baby.

But the weirdest character, by far, is Mona Malnorowski aka Hatchet-Face, who is taken on by Alexys Murphy — a “Drape” member who carries a weapon and is feared.

Because of its content, Treehouse Theatre has placed a PG14 warning label on the show but Fera said much of the language has been toned down for younger audiences (two of its matinees are for feeder schools: Scott Creek and Eagle Mountain middle).

Fera said it’s the first time in Treehouse’s history that a show has been chosen by committee. “We looked at quite a few and thought this would be the best fit for these students,” she told The Tri-City News during a rehearsal last Thursday at the Coquitlam school.

Cry-Baby includes a 17-member orchestra with teacher Marcia Carmichael conducting.

• Cry-Baby opens Wednesday and runs until Feb. 2. Tickets at $13 in advance (or $15 at the door) are available in the school office (3000 Pinewood Ave., Coquitlam) and from the 30 cast members. Call 604-464-2513.

jcleugh@tricitynews.com
@jcleughTC