The Phantom of the Music Room

Recently, the actors and artists of Fayette County presented The Phantom of the Music Room by Janet Gardner for their children’s theatre workshop. The night was absolutely magical, starting with workshop director Jim Overly running the cast through various vocal warm ups.

The mini musical itself was great fun, the plot revolving around the mysterious Phantom. The children including Chris (Lisa Manderino), Kimberly (Mary Martin), Jesse (Denise Babilya) and Samantha (Kyra Lasko) overhear the Phantom one night while loitering outside the music room. As only kids can, they decide to find out who this ghost is.

Help arrives in the form of Deputy Barney (Mandy Onder), who convinces the music teacher Miss Appleby (Chelsa Forbees) and principal Taylor (Danielle Lafisca) to listen to the children. Strangely enough, even the janitor Floyd (Ashley Babilya) admits to hearing the eerie music.

All of the children except Lindsey (Alyssa Hensel) believe in ghosts of course, which leads into ‘I Don’t Believe in Phantoms” in Act II. As Lindsey sings her disbelief the children including Erin (Zoe Ripple), Dani (Violet Kern), Rachel (Kayla Goodwin), and Alana (Jessica Shotts) weave a counterpoint into her song.

Despite this, the three adults hide in the music room to capture the Phantom, who of course ends up being Floyd. Floyd had given up piano years before and now sneaks into the music room to practice. The adults trick the kids into meeting their Phantom, and all ends well.

The music here was delightful as well, being set to classical pieces including the Funeral March and Fur Elise. The entire cast did superb with the music far better than one would expect with two weeks practice. The fact that they earned their roles in cold readings should make them all very proud.

Also rounding out the cast were Brittney (Marina Stefano), Robbie (Ryan Allem), Brooke (Sierra Lasko) and Emily (Christina Snyder). The entire cast did extremely well and it was impossible to pick just one who gave everything to his or her performance.

Of course Floyd being the Phantom makes Miss Babilya’s role that much more challenging. The fact that she could actually play the keyboard as few actors who do the role can was an exciting bonus. She even treated the audience to a mini musical revue after the show during the staging of the photo shoot.

The highlight of the evening had to be the awards ceremony where each actor or actress received his or her certificate of achievement. This reviewer looks forward to seeing a well-deserved cast photo on the wall of fame soon.