Player One: ready. It’s time to adventure through the fantastical world of “Claudio Quest.”
McLean High School’s intimate and wildly entertaining rendition of this creative show pulls itself together through outstanding technical work, a dedicated cast and the right amount of fun.
The musical – a parody of a certain platforming, red overall-wearing plumber– undoubtedly follows in the footsteps of its source material as he sets out on a journey, defeats the enemies, saves a princess, so forth and so on.
Where “Claudio Quest” strikes out on its own, however, is in its campy, tongue-in-cheek humor and its quaint charm.
Drew Fornarola and Marshall Pailet wrote the musical’s book, lyrics and score. The show premiered at the New York Musical Theatre Festival in 2015, where it was directed by John Tartaglia.
Although Luis, played in this production by Nathan Bass, may have been Player 2, he was anything but second best. Bass immediately launched the audience into his own world during his first solo with his soaring vocals and effortless vibrato.
Bass’ portrayal of the awkward yet charming role was kept animated through sharp and energetic movements. Still, he painted moments of gravity when his voice wavered and his body language shifted. Overall, Bass emerged as a victor on the stage, evident by the ferocious cheers of audience approval.
The pompous and zany Claudio, portrayed by Noah Chlan, was a comedic delight when he graced the stage. Chlan boasted his way through the show, successfully building a character that radiated cockiness through his broad vocals and expressive reactions.
Completing the trio was Princess Fish, played by Miranda Simpson. Simpson’s portrayal of the spunky character was infused with her own spirit. Despite the silly nature of the role, Simpson kept her delivery down-to-earth and witty.
The production boasted exceptional sound design by Emma Springer. Like any video game, every action by the players was accompanied by a sound effect. Springer worked to seamlessly synchronize dozens of effects with the movements of actors. Additionally, the actors’ audio was blended in a way that resonated perfectly within the small performance space.
Lighting, designed by Jolie Korfonta and Alex Elders, elevated the video-game effects. Every sound effect was paired with an appropriate lighting cue, bathing the stage in red for lost lives, green for dense jungle shrubbery, and purple for the evil boss.
Megan Wright, the special-effects designer, leveled up the entire production with handmade animations. The sound effects worked in sync with the sound and other tech elements, changing in real time based on the actors’ every move. Each frame was designed with the utmost artistic talent by Wright, who created over 400 cues.
The fusion of technical elements and actors created a show that was amusing and entertaining. Beyond the antics of the world, the story concluded with a feel-good message that is sure to leave any audience member wanting to replay the game.
The GazetteLeader partners with the Critics and Awards Program (CAPPIES) in presenting student-written reviews of local high-school theater productions.
For more on the initiative, see the Web site at www.cappies.com/nca/.
