Penn Players put on fun show

Penn Singers' "Overtures" left the audience smiling. The sets were minimal, the crowd was sparse and the ensemble had its share of mishaps, but last night's performance by Penn Singers had the one element that can overcome any hardship – fun. The script, written by five Penn Singers, is a charming but thinly-veiled effort to string together music by Cole Porter and George Gershwin. The rather weak plot centers around ironic differences between actors' onstage and offstage lives. Fortunately, however, "Overtures" does not rely on its plot. What draws the audience in is the dancing, the singing and the simple fact that the ensemble loves what it is doing. The show's committee of choreographers, headed by Engineering junior Ferit Albukrek, creates clever and lively numbers for both large and small groups of dancers. Especially notable were "Slap that Bass," a production number worthy of the broadway genre it portrays, and "Naughty Baby," an anthem for aggressive women which was masterfully performed by College junior Eileen Everly. What made the show special, though, were satirical numbers like the deadpan "Don't Fence Me In" and the goofy but lovable "Brush Up Your Shakespeare." These numbers were hilarious in their intentional flaws, and gave the show a wonderful comic flavor. The singing, unfortunately, was not as consistent. College senior Chris Wilkes and College junior Jennifer Rossell were strong throughout, but ensemble members in the small chorus numbers often had to make up for mediocre singing with pure energy and big smiles. The cast had more than its share of unplanned missed cues and missteps, and those problems conspired with the low budget and small audience to make the show seem more like a dress rehearsal than an opening night. However, with sheer enthusiasm and outstanding dance numbers, the Penn Singers have managed to translate a corny but cute script into an enjoyable theatrical experience. This show is not for the viewer who wants to see weighty themes or highly polished dialogue. It is for the viewer who wants to have fun for an hour and a half, and leave the theater smiling. Penn Singers' "Overtures" will run tomorrow and Saturday at 8p.m. at the Annenberg School Theater. Tickets cost $5, and are available at the Annenberg ticket window and on Locust Walk.