Lending a round of applause - The cast of the PRHS Drama Department's zany production of "Lend me a Tenor" take a final bow after a sidesplitting performance Saturday, Jan. 30.

Audience members laughed out loud during the wacky, sidesplitting cocktail of love, lust, pride and opera that is "Lend me a Tenor," presented by the Paso Robles High School [PRHS] Drama Department during a recent play.

The play, whose last showings are slated for Saturday, Feb. 6 at the PRHS Activity Center, features impressive performances by a cast that dared to speak Italian, sing opera and go all-out in the comedy department.

Director and PRHS drama teacher Cynthia Anthony warned audience members not to look for any significant themes within the play in a note included in the program.

"We are all here for one reason – to laugh," Anthony said. "If laughter is the universal language, then we will be speaking to the world tonight as we sit back, relax and go for the ride..."

The 1934 production centers on famed boozehound, womanizer and renounced opera tenor Tito Merelli, played by Belgium exchange student Pierre Halloy. The Italian opera star – who enamored fans refer to as "Il Stupendo" – arrives at a hotel room before an anticipated production of "Otello," where Merelli has been scheduled to play the title role.

The no-holds-barred comedy ensues when Merelli's wife discovers Maggie Saunders, played by Michaela Grocott, in the hotel room closet. Saunders, who harbors a naïve and unfounded crush on the opera star, sets the ball in motion by causing Merelli's hot-blooded wife, played by Andi Russell, to write a Dear John letter before "leaving for good this time."



For the complete article see the 02-05-2010 issue.

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