Thoroughly Modern Millie
at Bishop O'Connell High School

Reviewed on April 23, 2016

Natalie Welber
Walt Whitman High School
Submitted for publication to Washington Post - Alex/Arl

Millie Dillmount is the spitting image of a 1920's modern: she bobs her hair, wears short dresses, and creates an ingenious plan to move to New York City and marry her boss. As she explains, for the modern woman, when you're talking about marriage, "love has nothing to do with it." Her plan hits a bump in the road when she meets Jimmy Smith, an endearing man who makes Millie choose between emeralds and green-glass love.

After being thrust penniless into city life, Millie adamantly shouts out "I'm gonna get it or die trying!" As the title character, Maddy Collins had a challenging job ahead of her in Bishop O'Connell High School's production of Thoroughly Modern Millie. From her first solo, Collins proved that she, just like Millie, was going to fight her way to stardom. She immediately brought energy to every scene, and kept it up throughout the performance. Collins' strong-minded Millie worked wonderfully with Daniel Herrerias' sweet, winsome Jimmy, and the audience rooted for them with applause and cheers as their relationship progressed.

Stirring up trouble throughout the show are Mrs. Meers, the comically creepy hotel owner, and her lovable assistants Ching Ho and Bun Foo. Miranda Smith successfully entertained the audience while showing the complexities of Mrs. Meers, an aging actress who drugs the young girls in her hotel to sell them into white slavery in Hong Kong. Liam Behan and Augusto Oliveros, playing the adorable brothers who work for Mrs. Meers, accomplished what is possibly the most challenging part of the show: speaking (and singing!) almost exclusively in Chinese. Subtitles on the side stage walls clued the audience in to the topic of the conversation, but the actors' full commitment to the characters and words would have sufficed.

Despite a few issues with singers' entrances and tap dance timing, the cast showed they were musically inclined by executing the challenging score. Whether it was Millie's famous high belting parts (Gimme Gimme), operatic ballads (Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life/ Falling in Love), a sultry, jazzy solo (They Don't Know), or a sweet duet with complicated harmonies (I Turned the Corner), the leading and supporting cast members impressed the audience with their musical mastery.

To complement the strong singing, student-built set pieces were smartly designed with the actors in mind. Actors were visible whether outside or inside of the simple structures. Most impressive were the two identical jail cells, which, though a bit flimsy, clearly represented metal bars locking the characters in after their adventure at a speakeasy, and provided clear sight-lines from any seat in the audience while Daniel Herrerias (Jimmy) sang his big number.

Though there was a set change accident resulting in a fallen-down set and broken pottery shards, the actresses in the next scene so perfectly played it off while staying in character that the audience may never have known about the accident if not for the loud crash. The scene ended with thunderous applause for the quick, hilarious save, adding to what Bishop O'Connell's Thoroughly Modern Millie was all about: fun.

Makiko Miyazaki
Walt Whitman High School
Submitted for publication to Washington Post - Alex/Arl

Gimme Gimme a show with daring adventure, endearing lovers, mistaken identity, failed-actress-turned-evil antagonist.... Well, one show has it all! Bishop O'Connell High School's production of Thoroughly Modern Millie was a sweet success.

Thoroughly Modern Millie follows a small-town girl, Millie Dillmount, who moves to New York City in 1922 to marry a rich man. Problems arise when she falls in love with another, seemingly less rich man: she is forced to choose between material comfort and true love. The show opened on Broadway in 2002 and swept six Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

Maddy Collins portrayed Millie with grace and command. Her confident strides across the stage showed Millie's determination to find herself a happy, successful life. Collins constantly supplied the energy that drove the show, especially through her strong vocals and effortless sustaining of long and high notes. Daniel Herrerias played Jimmy Smith, Millie's true love. Herrerias' pleasant vocals and enthusiastic dance moves were notable. Herrerias and Collins had excellent chemistry – the tension between the two before their first kiss was especially convincing and well-executed.

Eden Hentschel (Miss Dorothy, Millie's friend who almost marries Millie's boss), was consistently bubbly and contributed greatly to the momentum of the show. Liam Behan's portrayal of Ching Ho, a Chinese accomplice in the white slavery ring at Millie's hotel, was simply lovable. Behan demonstrated Chiang Ho's pure and innocent love for Miss Dorothy by highlighting the difference between his naturally hesitant, obedient nature and his courage in confessing his love in broken English. Miranda Smith (Mrs. Meers, leader of the white slavery ring) and Isabel Fernandez (Muzzy Van Hossmere, singer and stepmother of Jimmy and Dorothy) should be commended for their incredibly natural improvisation when a prop broke on stage. Despite dips in ensemble energy and some slow set changes, all the hard work by the cast and crew was evident.

The set, although rather minimalist, was effective in establishing the sparkling atmosphere of the 1920's in combination with beautiful backdrops of cityscapes. The colorful elevator with the moving floor indicator was one of the well-constructed set pieces. The projection on a side of the stage was successfully operated, translating Ching Ho and his brother Bun Foo's Cantonese at consistently precise timing.

Bishop O'Connell High School's production of Thoroughly Modern Millie had the audience falling in love. The cast and crew deserve praise not only for producing the show with passion, but also for delivering the universal lesson of staying true to your heart. Not for the life of them would people want to miss this iconic musical.

Anna Merrill
Teens and Theatre
Submitted for publication to Patch.com - ARL/MC/Mont/DC

The lights went down, the orchestra came in, and in the instant that the curtain flew up, the actors of Bishop O'Connell High School transported their audience into 1920s New York. It was an enchanting performance from start to finish, one that compelled the audience to laugh and gasp as though the characters' experiences were their own. Thanks to the talented actors, vocalists, and dancers, Bishop O'Connell's production of Thoroughly Modern Millie was a roaring success.

When Millie Dillmount (Maddy Collins) leaves her hometown of Salina, Kansas behind for New York City, she is determined to leave behind her country girl persona and become a modern women. Infatuated by the idea of the American dream, Millie plans to become an actress and marry a millionaire. But between the sinister plot of a white slavery ring and Millie's confused feelings about a poor office supplies salesman (Daniel Herrerias), things don't quite go according to plan.

Bishop O'Connell's production began with a bang, thanks to leading lady Maddy Collins. From the moment she stepped on the stage, Collins exuded confidence and infectious enthusiasm. Collins took on the demanding role with gusto, throwing herself into Millie's world and mind. Collins had a lovely mezzo-soprano voice, and never doubted herself when landing a high belt. Her facial expressions were always over-the-top, and she always seemed to know the correct emotion to portray throughout the variety of situations that Millie faces.

The show was blessed not only by the very talented lead actress, but from a large cast of actors that each gave their all. Miranda Smith played the show's sinister yet charismatic antagonist, Mrs. Meers. Smith wonderfully captured the essence of a classic villain while also making the role her own. Smith undoubtedly was one of the most talented actors on stage last weekend, and her presence on stage enhanced every scene she was in.

Daniel Herrerias (Jimmy) had a warm, expressive voice and portrayed his character's objectives wonderfully. Isabel Fernandez (Muzzy) captured the essence of the fading diva she portrayed, and performed with a maturity beyond her years. Augusto Oliveros and Liam Behan, who played Bun Foo and Ching Ho respectively, were a hilarious ensemble and skillfully brought levity into the production whenever it was needed.

No matter how talented a cast is, the true test of a thespian comes when things do not go according to plan. Near the end of the second act, a scene transition went wrong and a set piece was knocked over, breaking several props right before a scene. However, thanks to Smith and Fernandez, the show went on without another hitch. The two young ladies improvised around the set disaster and smoothly transitioned back into the flow of the play. Major props to Fernandez and Smith for their preparedness and unflappable attitudes.

Overall, the student actors of Bishop O'Connell High School did well to replicate this lively, high-energy musical. The talented cast navigated their way through the show, and despite a few technical mishaps- the small and the not-so-small -the student cast created a convincing, enchanting atmosphere that kept the audience glued to their seats.

Gillian Wright
McLean High School
Submitted for publication to Insidenova - Sun Gazette

At first glance, it seems ironic to call a show that takes place nearly a century ago "modern;" however, some things never change, and the themes of seeking love, struggling with money, and bravely overcoming challenges are simply timeless. Bishop O'Connell High School's lively production of "Thoroughly Modern Millie" was a perfect reminder that despite personal goals and financial woes, love conquers all.

Based on a 1967 movie of the same title, which itself was based on the British musical "Chrysanthemum," the musical opened on Broadway also in 1967. With music by Jeanine Tesori and lyrics by Dick Scanlan, a 2002 revival of "Thoroughly Modern Millie" went on to win six Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Millie, the titular character, is a young Kansasian woman seeking a rich marriage in New York City in the exciting year of 1922. When city life is harder than she expected, Millie is forced to find a job, rescue a friend from impending slavery, and ultimately must choose between marrying for money or for true love.

Starring as Millie, Maddy Collins had a lovely voice that was best showcased in "I Turned the Corner," her duet with lover Jimmy (Daniel Herrerias). Collins' dedicated physicality, bold stage presence, and expressive vocal inflections drew the audience in, causing them to truly empathize with her hopes, dreams, and pains. Opposite Collins, Herrerias also sang commendably, and his lovelorn character was conveyed skillfully through song, dance, and facial expressions.

Millie's best friend, Miss Dorothy (Eden Hentschel), was highly entertaining with her hyperbolic movements, comical dancing, and impressive singing. Trevor Greydon (Ciaran O'Donovan), whom both Millie and Dorothy aim to marry, truly blossomed in the second act as falling love changed his stuffy demeanor into a silly personality, head-over-heels for Dorothy. Also in love with Dorothy, Ching Ho (Liam Behan) was endearing in his effortful strife to demonstrate his ardor for Dorothy despite lingual and social barriers. Both Ching Ho and brother Bun Foo (Augusto Oliveros) spoke nearly the entire show in proficient Cantonese, demonstrating a remarkable commitment to the show.

Effective technical elements supported the actors in every aspect of their performance. Microphones compensated for the performers' occasionally inadequate diction while smooth spotlights efficiently directed attention to the star of each number. A variety of set pieces helped transition the show's setting from hotel to nightclub to prison cell, though these pieces notably increased the timed need to shift from scene to scene. Makeup and costumes were used skillfully to distinguish between characters.

As so often happens, Millie's blueprint for success goes wrong from the moment she arrives in New York. With a little help from a few friends, however, she is able to overcome her challenges, leading her to learn the most modern lesson of all: follow your heart and always choose love over money. Bishop O'Connell High School's "Thoroughly Modern Millie" was a colorful yet wholesome show with an uplifting message.

Maddie Gereski
South County High School
Submitted for publication to The Catholic Herald

What do you get when you combine a backwaters-Kansas native, Prohibition, and white slavery? Why, none other than Bishop O'Connell High School's production of Thoroughly Modern Millie!

Originally based on the 1967 film, Thoroughly Modern Millie reached the Broadway stage in 2002, winning six Tony Awards, including the award for Best Musical. The show stars Millie Dillmount, (portrayed in Bishop O'Connell ‘s production by senior Maddy Collins), a small-town girl struggling to make it big in New York City in 1922 as a ‘modern' girl. Millie starts her journey set on marrying for money, but conflicts arise when she falls in love with Jimmy Smith, a man, who, according to himself, doesn't have a cent to his name. Overall, Bishop O'Connell's interpretation of Thoroughly Modern Millie, proved simple and adequate in telling this tribute to love and adventure. The highlights of the show included the chemistry between select actors, and the consistent talent of Maddy Collins (Millie) throughout the entire show.

Primarily, the connections that a few of the actors seemed to possess in the musical were crucial in keeping the plot of Thoroughly Modern Millie rolling. The relationship and chemistry between Jimmy, played by Daniel Herrerias, and Millie melted the audience's hearts. When suspicions arose that perhaps Millie was not the only girl in Jimmy's life, the audience audibly gasped; it just went to show how emotionally invested each member became in their love story. Collins and Herrerias seemed extremely comfortable together, succeeding in an element that often makes-or-breaks a show. Secondly, the comedic relief of Ching Ho and Bun Foo, played by Liam Behan and Augusto Oliveros respectively, woke the audience up, and their convincing banter added a laughable element to the show. They not only mastered their lines in a foreign language, but also understood and acted their words to the point that subtitles were rarely needed to decipher what they meant.

Additionally, a few of the actors were pivotal to the success of the show. Collins, specifically, added a much-needed dose of energy to the show. In contrast with many of her cast-mates, Collins appeared confident in her dancing and remained consistent in her characterization of Millie Dillmount at all times. Furthermore, Collin's vocal ability proved utterly impressive, with an evident vibrato that rang out from her first note to her last. All in all, Collins elevated the level of the show.

Despite frequent technical bumps, the cast and crew, more often than not, rebounded well from troubles that arose. For example, when a set piece fell and consequently shattered a few of the other props, Muzzy Van Hossmere, played by Isabel Fernandez, and Mrs. Meers, portrayed by Miranda Smith, improved a response that added a flare of humor and turned a problem that could've been debilitating to something less serious. The crew rolled with conflicts and took them in stride; after all, the show must go on.

All in all, Bishop O'Connell's production of Thoroughly Modern Millie was adequate in its portrayal. With the exceptional talents of Maddy Collins as Millie and connective chemistry, the show was relatively successful.