LHS Broadway Musicals

May 10, 11, and 12, 2007

Vaclav Havel has done well in taking John Gay's Beggar's Opera as a basis for a political satire.

This version of The Beggar's Opera works on two separate levels. It is ostensibly a very pleasantly diverting amusement about scoundrels in mid-19th century London. It is an eloquent commentary upon a totalitarian state, which would not have allowed direct commentary on its failings.

The plot is relatively simple in its conception. Willy Peachum is an underworld godfather whose main rival is the handsome young Macheath . Peachum's relationship with Bill Lockit, the chief of police, is complex to say the least. They double, triple and quadruple cross each other and everyone else. It is clear that Peachum's first allegiance is to his pocket and to this end, if he needs to sell his daughter, his colleagues or his soul to the devilish state, then he will do so.

In some ways, Macheath's relationship with them is much simpler. He has bigamously married both of their daughters and each of the young ladies would do as little (or as much) for him as they would for their fathers.

As the play develops, the relationships twist and turn with much skulduggery as the handsome Macheath tries to keep everyone happy with his remarkable caddish charm. He is the kind of man who is equally loved and betrayed by his women but there is a kind of openness and honesty about him that distinguishes him from the powers that be.

Similarly, Harry Filch, a freelance pickpocket, is the most honest thief in town to whom honour means more than his life. He will not stoop to the hypocrisy that is practised by his supposed betters even when the alternative is the noose.

Throw in the ladies, Diana a very genteel and amusing owner of a "ladies' salon" with her three charming assistants and the respective daughters, Polly Peachum and Lucy Lockit who obediently simper and squea, and you have a recipe for much fun.

While the plotting may not have quite the depth of the original, Macheath is still dashing, the ladies lovely and his rivals dastardly. For those who love subtlety in their politics or just enjoy plain old-fashioned stories of criminals and scandals, The Beggar's Opera (not an opera in the musical sense) is strongly recommended.
Show dates were: May 10, 11, 12, 2007.

Ledyard High School Drama and Musicals
Click on to see Past Musical Performances.
	Guys and Dolls 2000	*Pirates of Penzance* 2004
LHS Musical 2008

March 8, 9, and 10, 2008 The spring musical, Into the Woods by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine. Into the Woods blends various familiar fairy tales with an original story of a childless Baker and his Wife, who catalyze the action of the story by attempting to reverse a curse on their family in order to have a child. *Into The Woods* 2008
Past Drama Attractions

May 10, 11, and 12, 2007 Vaclav Havel has done well in taking John Gay's Beggar's Opera as a basis for a political satire. This version of The Beggar's Opera works on two separate levels. It is ostensibly a very pleasantly diverting amusement about scoundrels in mid-19th century London. It is an eloquent commentary upon a totalitarian state, which would not have allowed direct commentary on its failings. The plot is relatively simple in its conception. Willy Peachum is an underworld godfather whose main rival is the handsome young Macheath . Peachum's relationship with Bill Lockit, the chief of police, is complex to say the least. They double, triple and quadruple cross each other and everyone else. It is clear that Peachum's first allegiance is to his pocket and to this end, if he needs to sell his daughter, his colleagues or his soul to the devilish state, then he will do so. In some ways, Macheath's relationship with them is much simpler. He has bigamously married both of their daughters and each of the young ladies would do as little (or as much) for him as they would for their fathers. As the play develops, the relationships twist and turn with much skulduggery as the handsome Macheath tries to keep everyone happy with his remarkable caddish charm. He is the kind of man who is equally loved and betrayed by his women but there is a kind of openness and honesty about him that distinguishes him from the powers that be. Similarly, Harry Filch, a freelance pickpocket, is the most honest thief in town to whom honour means more than his life. He will not stoop to the hypocrisy that is practised by his supposed betters even when the alternative is the noose. Throw in the ladies, Diana a very genteel and amusing owner of a "ladies' salon" with her three charming assistants and the respective daughters, Polly Peachum and Lucy Lockit who obediently simper and squea, and you have a recipe for much fun. While the plotting may not have quite the depth of the original, Macheath is still dashing, the ladies lovely and his rivals dastardly. For those who love subtlety in their politics or just enjoy plain old-fashioned stories of criminals and scandals, The Beggar's Opera (not an opera in the musical sense) is strongly recommended. Show dates were: May 10, 11, 12, 2007.
Past Drama Attraction

The LHS Drama Club presented "Enchanted April" by Matthew Barber. Set in 1922, two frustrated London housewives decide to rent an Italian villa for a holiday away from their bleak marriages. They recruit two very different English women to share the cost and all four rediscover themselves and their relationships among wisteria blossoms and the mediterranean sun. Show dates were: November 30, December 1, December 2, 2006.