LSU’s Musical Theatre Club brings “Falsettos” to life

“Falsettos” is an irreverent musical about the ups and downs of family life, assuring audiences that no matter what each day brings, everything will be alright.

LSU’s Musical Theater Club is preparing for its second show of the season, “Falsettos,” written by William Finn and directed by recent LSU graduate Callie Ancelet. Set in the early 1980s, this musical comedy follows Marvin and his family as they navigate the messy complexities of love, acceptance and identity.

“‘Falsettos’ is a slice of life,” Ancelet said. “Really, really true life.”

This musical features a company cast, meaning that the characters are not split into leads and ensemble but rather carry equal weight. Seven characters make up the unconventional family tree–Marvin, his lover Whizzer, his ex-wife Trina and his son Jason, as well as his psychiatrist Mendel and his two lesbian neighbors, Cordelia and Charlotte. This production has a main cast and an understudy cast.

The characters are all very different, each one grappling with his or her own inner battles, but the well-roundedness of the whole cast brings a grounded sense of realness to the musical that audiences will undoubtedly relate to.

Ancelet said that many playwrights tend to present audiences with romanticized versions of real life, whereas “Falsettos” is unapologetically real, despite some of its absurdity.

“‘Falsettos’ is very raw,” she said. “It’s very matter-of-fact, and you’ll see it in the lyrics of each song and the dialogue. It’s very nitty gritty, so be ready for sure. Brace yourself.”

One of the show’s main themes is that of queer identity. Four of the seven characters are in homosexual relationships, a change in pace from most broadway musicals, which usually spotlight hetersexual relationships.

Morgane Campbell, a sophomore psychology major, is proud to be playing the role of Cordelia as a queer woman herself.

“I feel like it’s very few and far between to find lesbian characters who are so prideful about being lesbian,” Campbell said. “People in the audience are going to see queer people being queer people, and I think that’s very important.”

“Falsettos” is a sung-through musical, meaning that the songs are back-to-back with no dialogue in between. These songs, in true 90s musical fashion, comprise fast-paced lyrics, complex rhythm and over-lapping vocal parts that make the soundtrack that much more difficult to learn. However, the cast has put together an impressive show in just eight weeks of rehearsals.

The simplicity of the set allows the music and acting to shine. Black blocks are rearranged to create countless spaces, including a kitchen counter, a baseball stadium and a psychiatrist’s office. Because of the set’s minimalism, it is the actors’ performances that create the illusion of different environments.

Still, what truly sells the production is the chemistry between the actors themselves. Within 30 seconds of sitting in on rehearsal, it was clear how close they have all become over the past month. Their witty banter, inside jokes and vulnerability with one another all translate to their on-stage performances, adding another layer of realness to the show.

Anthony Burton, a freshman vocal performance major, said the most rewarding part of his experience so far has been working with and getting to know his fellow castmates.

“Oh my god, the people, the people, the people, they’re so amazing,” Burton said. “They’re so amazing, they’re so lovely.”

At the end of the day, “Falsettos” is more than a laugh-out-loud comedy–it is the heartwarming story of a family learning to love and accept each other for who they are.

“You can’t choose how the people around you act or who they become,” said Ancelet. “You can only accept them and love them as they come.”

“Falsettos” opens next week in the Digital Media Center Theatre, with shows on Oct. 30-31 and Nov. 1 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 2 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 for students and $15 for the public, and they can be purchased on the MTC’s website.