The lights dimmed on a collection of rowdy, over-eager kids ready to sing show tunes for their audience. This past weekend, Broadway Musical Review (BMR) put on a production of 18 disjointed classics, each of which came with its own choreography and costumes. The musical inspirations varied from such Disney classics as Hercules and Cinderella to other established classics of Broadway West Side Story and Rent.

The cast mastered this variance well as they absorbed its influences and added their own twist to each of the numbers. Although the overall outcome was spectacular and the singing and choreography polished, it was apparent that professionalism was not the cast’s biggest concern.
Rather, it was the, “sense of balance between great theatrical quality and comedy,” co-director Sammee Jaff ’11 explained. That is the true appeal of BMR: musical talent interlaced with undeniable wit.

The show kicked off with a rendition of “The Nicest Kids in Town” from Hairspray. Each cast member was sporting a popped collar, some form of argyle and a sweater vest. As they danced the twist and introduced themselves through a roll call, they set the scene for great enthusiasm and energy.
As the show progressed, the girls added a comedic value to  “Go the Distance” from Hercules. Bra straps out, heels in hand and oversized men’s button-downs on, they reflected on the infamous walk of shame.

They proposed that it should be known as the walk of glory, slowly transitioning to how they will “Go the Distance” to their own dorm rooms after their nocturnal escapades.
The exaggerated undertones of this sense of accomplishment had the whole audience giggling, as this beloved childhood classic became adapted to college life.

Act One finished off with the strong ballad “Song of Purple Summer” from Spring Awakening. The whole cast harmonized a beautiful melody of the famous line, “all shall know the wonder,” as each of their voices complemented the others, and they became a collective whole.
Not surprisingly, Act Two got even better, as the musical selections became even more relatable and fun.

Andrew Cox ’11 and Jaff repurposed “Razzle Dazzle” from Chicago to spoof college tours. Pretending to take a prospective student on a tour of the College, the two sang, “razzle dazzle them, and they’ll apply ED1.” As co-director Savvy Lodge-Scharff ’11 played frisbee in the quad and boasted a Colby Bookstore bag, the tour guides listed tongue-in-cheek facts about Colby’s “excellent” academics and resources, all while singing to the tune of “Razzle Dazzle. 

The cast continued this hilarity in their rendition of “Do I Love You?” from Cinderella. The girls brought an audience member to the stage and moaning for his attention as they gave him long and gentle caresses.

His blushing only escalated as the girls tackled each other to be his one and only. There’s no denying that such overacting and unrestrained histrionics only furthered the song’s comedic appeal and BMR’s general sense of absurdity.

BMR also made sure to include their own inside jokes, emphasizing that the production was just as much for them as it was for their audience.

In “I Just Can’t Wait to be King,” from The Lion King they complained about their directors’ “dictatorship,” jokingly claiming that they could not wait to replace them as rulers. Julia Crouter ’13 went as far as to say that co-directors Lodge-Scharff and Jaff, “made me hate BMR for almost two whole minutes!”

Later, the directors had their own little duet to the tune of “Roxie” from Chicago in which they sang an ode to themselves. The answer to, “who’s going to keep Waterville combustible,” was obviously “Savvmmee,” a combination of Sammee and Savvy’s names.

The show was brought to a close with the popular, “Seasons of Love.” This Rent classic was a declaration of the cast’s love and commitment to each other. Watching the performance, it was apparent that this was a production put on by friends, which only added to its familiar charm.