BY AMELIA MCMAHON
It’s Friday night, and the auditorium is quickly filling as people eagerly file in and take their seats. The excitement is palpable as the lights dim and the “passengers” are asked to turn off their cell phones, “as it is the wrong century.”
From the first scene to the last, the cast does their best to drag a laugh out of the audience, which wasn’t too hard to do Friday, according to the cast members.
After the performance, the cast and crew shared their reactions and thoughts from the bustling backstage changing room.
“It was really good and they were laughing at some of our really cheesy jokes,” says Lauren Trester. “We were really nervous that we weren’t going to get a good audience, but we’re glad we got a very responsive audience.”
Ryan Fine, known on-stage as Billy Crocker, said that the audience was very responsive and “definitely easy to communicate with.”
“It was a good crowd,” Fine stated.
“I’m glad they laughed,” said actor Gavin Smith.
Despite having the “jitters,” as cast member Elysse “Woo” Winget puts it, the opening performance was a success.
“I thought it made it ten times better because everyone was really into it,” said Winget, who has been a part of the musicals since her freshman year.
“It went pretty good,” said a semi-costumed Smith, who played a sailor and a compulsive Chinese gambler, as his self-described “six-pack was gleaming.” He was then told to “put the six-pack away” by fellow cast member Kyle Matz, who played a news reporter on the boat.
“Anything Goes is better than the other two musicals,” said Matz, who has been in three musicals. “They were good, they just weren’t as fun as this one.”
The musical, “Anything Goes,” was filled with witty remarks as well as an improv scene between Emma Welch and Peter Laug, as “Reno” and “Moonface Martin.”
“It was different every time, and sometimes it was really awkward,” Welch stated.
“It was try and fail,” says Laug.
“It was try, fail, fail, fail, somewhat succeed,” interjected Welch.
After the show, the cast stood in the hallway to greet and thank everyone who had come to watch.
