Last Friday, I had the pleasure of seeing one of Coronado School of the Art’s (CoSA) finest productions of Catch Me If You Can, with a libretto by Terrance McNally and theatrical score by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman. Performed at the Coronado Performing Arts Center (650 D Avenue), the venue offers a close-up view of fantastic performances and exciting routines.
Both the musical and DreamWorks’ 2002 motion picture (starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks) are based on the outlandish true-life story of Frank Abagnale, Jr. The musical starts with a bang as Frank Jr. finds himself surrounded by FBI agents led by the dogged Carl Hanratty. Before being carted off to headquarters, Frank laments that the audience should know why he is being arrested. Much to Hanratty’s surprise and disgust, both spotlights and music signal that the two men are about to embark on a musical journey.
It is obvious to all that Frank Jr. is anything but your average high schooler and it is easy to see where his unusual take on life comes from as we are introduced to Frank Abagnale, Sr. Frank Sr. is both charming and scheming, and, like his son, it is hard not to root for him. Married to Paula Abagnale, a French singer whom he met while stationed in France during World War II, Frank Sr. is a dreamer who has big plans for his family. His plans never really come to fruition though, either because the damned IRS is after him or someone got sly to his games. When we meet this family, they are teetering on disaster.
As Frank Jr.’s home life falls apart, he finds himself transferred from his private school to the local public one. Still wearing his former school’s fancy jacket, Frank is mistaken for a substitute teacher and thus begins his “career” impersonating a variety of skilled professionals. Jr. is cunning and creative but charismatic too and, like his father, in your heart you pull for him and hope that he’ll straighten up and fly right.
Because of his exploits, Jr. draws the attention of Hanratty, a desk jockey of an agent. Hanratty is like a terrier – he’s tenacious, anxious, and wound a little too tight. But he’s got heart and a soft spot for Jr. who is, after all, just a kid.
The audience is treated to Frank’s many exploits around the globe, “making” good money and living a glamorous life as a playboy. His extraordinary adventures are all the more amazing when you consider that his life is based on a real person.
Speaking of being amazed – let’s start with the fact that this musical is a high school production under the direction of Barbara Wolf, Ph.D. According to Wolf, her post-college career included working as an actress and she later obtained a Master’s and a Ph.D. in Directing. She recounts, “I started working with youth theater and ended up here…This is my 20th year teaching with the School of the Arts.” Wolf explains that under CoSA’s Musical Theater and Drama Conservatory, the students are trained “to be triple threats so they have equal time acting, singing, and dancing.” She goes on to say that in addition to these skills the students take “specialty classes like Shakespeare, directing, voice and diction, [and] theater history…so they leave really, really well-rounded.”
The students’ abundant talent and dedication are evident in every scene. The production has a handful of standouts. The Abagnale family includes performances by Benjamin Shapiro as Abagnale, Jr., Matt Morris as Abagnale, Sr., and Annabell Walker as Paula.
Shapiro is magnetic on stage, and his performance as Jr. is both exuberant and believable. He has charm to spare and his innocent face is perfect for hiding his criminal intentions. I swear that Morris channels Christopher Walken’s character from the film as he embodies both the posture and spirit of a man twice his age, who has big dreams but can’t find an honest way to make them come true.
Walker’s portrayal as Paula is fantastic as she brings sophistication and maturity to her role that is made all the more incredible because of her young age. Look for her musical number, “Don’t Be A Stranger,” where she really shines.
Olivia Weinstein, as Brenda Strong, is wonderful and believable as Jr.’s naïve and sweet fiancé. It was great to watch how she transforms from an easily swayed young woman into someone who makes a stand. Weinstein’s performance during “Fly, Fly Away” is heartfelt and soulful and she brings emotional depth to the song.
The production boasts sixteen musical numbers and there wasn’t a single actor or actress that wasn’t up to the challenge of both acting, singing, and dancing their way through the tight choreography. The actresses that play the TWA stewardesses and hospital nurses are also sassy, entertaining, and full of life. Their choreography and dancing are both impressive and concise. These kids seem more like seasoned Broadway professionals than actual high school students.
And finally, there’s Jake Wascher as Agent Carl Hanratty. Wascher is convincing as a middle-aged, veteran agent who is both morally righteous and sees the world in black and white. Wascher is excellent in the musical number, “Don’t Break the Rules.” His comedic timing is perfect and his dancing in this fast-paced and funny number is both hilarious and exceptional. I’m not sure how he manages to look both like a dancing government bureaucrat and a practiced dancer at the same time.
This review wouldn’t be complete without giving credit to the people behind the scenes who make the production as enjoyable as it is. It is abundantly clear that both cast and crew have worked tirelessly to ensure a highly entertaining and amusing production. Make some time this weekend for an incredible show! It could be a nice gift for Mom or Grandmom!
Catch Me If You Can has only two more performances on this Friday and Saturday at 7:00p.m. You can purchase tickets 30 minutes prior to the show at the Coronado Performing Arts Center box office or online here.
For more information about the show & to check out CoSA’s other upcoming events, click here.
