Bittersweet night for Lynn English seniors in ‘Hollywood’ revue

LYNN – Lynn English drama students sang and danced Hollywood show tunes Friday night in an emotional and upbeat performance that also marked the seniors’ last show at the school.In the opening night of the drama club’s 2012 revue “Hollywood,” students performed a collection of songs, dances and sketches from famous movies and musicals in the 20th and 21st century.View a photo gallery of the revue.The versatile performance included everything from a silent film to an all-soldier Broadway piece “This is the Army” featuring members of the school’s ROTC and a boys choir.The revue wasn’t entirely made up of old Hollywood. A highlight of the show was a disco duet dance to the classic “Night Fever” song from the 1970s movie “Saturday Night Fever.” And athletic students also performed a kung fu routine to the 1970s disco song “Kung Fu Fighting,” a nod to the 2008 computer-animated film “Kung Fu Panda” featuring Jack Black.Even when the performance strayed into unfamiliar territory for high school-aged children, the students kept it entertaining.In a skit from the 1930s Broadway show “Crazy Horse,” senior Melody Gasca donned a hula skirt and chased fellow senior Danny Conners with a lawn mower. In the same skit, senior Yoselyn Guzman dressed up as an elderly woman and ran around the stage squirting a water gun at senior Anthony Fascone.Guzman said the “Crazy Horse” skit was one of her favorites of the night.”It’s all so random and we all get to showcase different parts of us,” Guzman said.The high-energy show excited 8-year-old Laura Bigler, who sat in the audience with her friend, 5-year-old Leann Brown, and Lynn English art teacher Martha Brown.”I especially like when they do things that are goofy and ridiculous,” Bigler said.On stage wasn’t the only source of commotion, said senior Derek King, who works on the set crew alongside seniors Amber Newhall and Matt Bryson.King said the show’s 40 participants have so many costume changes that backstage is a wreck after every show.”People are throwing their clothes off and running around,” he said. “It’s chaos.”But King and the show’s 13 other seniors managed to tone the night down when the entire graduating cast and crew sang “You’ve got a friend in me” in honor of the four years they’ve spent together on stage.Senior Jasmine Senn, who had several starring roles, said she’ll forever remember the show – and her four years with the drama club.She and many others were close to tears during the song.”Me and all my friends, we’re going different ways, so it’s really sad,” she said.But Senn had a feeling she’ll be back on stage soon, possibly with some of her fellow co-stars.”The stage is where I belong,” she said.Lynn English High School Drama Club’s 2012 revue, “Hollywood,” is on stage again tonight at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium, 50 Goodridge St. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the door.Amber Parcher can be reached at [email protected].