“101 Dalmations" delights hometown audience two nights last week’s
by Dan McClelland
The local fourth and fifth graders who performed in last week’s production of “101 Dalmations” deserved an A Grade for their work. -And not in our decades of coverage of school musicals and plays here have we seen a more enthusiastic bunch of singers and actors on stage. It was so apparent the kids were having a ball with the musical and their roles!
“The 101 Dalmatians” Musical is based on the 1956 children’s novel, "The Hundred and One Dalmations," written by Dodie Smith.
The musical follows a pair of Dalmatian dogs as they search through London in search of their litter of fifteen puppies, which were stolen by Cruella DeVil to make dog skin fur coats.
The original version on Broadway apparently had the actors sharing the stage with 15 real Dalmation dogs and using stilts to simulate the novel's original canine perspective.
The musical was praised by critics for the cast performances and the innovative use of stilts and live dogs. While the plot was generally praised, several reviews noted that the plot suffered from filler and excessive scenes. Reviewers also generally found the music to be fun but forgettable.
Not so the Tupper Lake Auditorium audience. Proud parents and family members loved it from start to finish. And for the first time since Covid19, the auditorium was packed.
The original plot of the musical goes something like this and our local version mirrored much of it well:
In London in 1957, a pair of Dalmatian dogs, Pongo and Missus, live with their human owners, the Dearlys, and enjoy a happy life. One day Missus gives birth to eight puppies, and the family is visited by Cruella De Vil, a former classmate of Mrs. Dearly. Cruella tries to buy the litter, but Pongo and Missus' owners refuse to sell them. She hires two men, Jasper and Jinx, to kidnap the puppies, along with many other Dalmatians in the city, to make dog-skinned fur coats. Pongo and Missus run away from home to find their puppies. With help from other dogs across the country, they find them, along with many other puppies, at Cruella's mansion and must get them back home without getting caught by the pursuing Cruella and her henchmen.
The singing of a number of pieces by the young players was very enjoyable and their lively antics on stage were very entertaining. Many times the audience broke out in loud laughter. The choreography was quite polished.
Elizabeth Lohan led the cast as the dastardly Cruella De Vil. Lucas Gardner as Roger had another lead role, as did Sidney Howard as Anita.
The other cast members included Franklin Tremblay as Pongo, Delaniee Wilson as Perdita, Ryan Dewyea as Lucky, Garrett LaValley as Patch, Emmie Brunette as Penny, Chloe Wilson as Pepper, Annabella Baker as Nanny, Martin Hughes as Horace, Lance Schaffer as Jasper, Cailyn Norton as the Boxer Narrator, Mallory Snyder as Scotty Narrator, Victoria Hudak as Poodle Narrator, Anna Kavanagh as Chihuahua Narrator, Madison Strack as Sergeant Tibbs, Aiden Trombley as Freckles, Aryanna Snickles-Ottley as Spotty, Addison Heading as the police officer and Isabelle Sauvageau as the dog catcher.
The “Dogs of London” were Emma-May Allen, Annabella Baker, Sophia Callaghan, Ellis Combs, Piper Davis, Addison Heading, Adelyn Pick, Isabelle Sauvageau, Aryanna Snickles-Ottley and Aiden Trombley.
The crew members, responsible for some very colorful and well decorated backdrops included Sophia Callaghan, Ryder Chapman, Aubrey Chesbrough, Isabella Charron, Ella Combs, Harper Conlon, Piper Davis, Adelyn Peck, Denver Proulx, Berlyn Sala, Isabelle Sauvageau, Jackson Shore, Landon Smithers, Carsyn Trudeau and Brayden Whitman.
The musical was very well directed by Danielle LaMere who was helped by Music Director Alanna Kogut, Choreographer Kendall Davison and the creative team of Anna Kittle and David Naone.
Support for the event came from teacher Miss Larkin, Superintendent Russ Bartlett, Principal Elizabeth Littlefield, Vocal Music Director Liz Cordes, Amanda LaScala, Transportation Chief Shawn Auclair and numerous bus drivers, Pat Bedore and Andrew McClelland of Stacked Graphics, Shae Arsenault, Jackson Dukette and Raegan Fritts. Many parents also contributed to the effort.