I’d like to recommend the San Marcos High School spring musical Me and My Girl to all Independent readers. My wife and I were lucky to see it Saturday night and frankly, I was blown away. (Full disclosure: My wife is a teacher at SMHS, so we go to almost all their theatrical productions. She teaches art, though, not theater.)
It is a My Fair Lady-ish musical, taking place in 1930’s England. The acting, singing, dancing, sets, and overall production were incredibly good. The orchestra plays for about two and a half hours without missing a beat. I think I enjoyed this play more than any that I have seen in Santa Barbara during the past 13 years, including productions by local theater companies, the Civic Light Opera, colleges and universities, and even previous SMHS classes.
I was glad the theater was dark, because I actually teared up a couple of times, being so impressed with the performances. The first time two actors tap-danced, I was amazed. Later, when the whole stage was filled with tap-dancers, I couldn’t believe it. I had no idea there were any tap-dancing teenagers alive, let alone so many at one school. The play is witty, the songs are enjoyable, and the performances were truly awe-inspiring. Two days later, my wife and I are still marveling at the performances.
I highly recommend that readers go see it: It runs again this weekend, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights (May 12-14) at 7 p.m. in the San Marcos High School auditorium, near the corner of Hollister Avenue and Turnpike Road. I am not sure how much a ticket costs (we attended free), but I think it is around $10 (and I’d have gladly paid more than $20). If you want to be inspired by today’s youth, I’d recommend you go see it.