The Quadrangle

Issue date: 11/8/06 Section: Arts & Entertainment

This Halloween Manhattan College Players performed the Cabaret, The Afterlife. The Players added a deadly twist to familiar songs leaving the crowd highly entertained. New members and surprising talent made the show a definite hit. Two of the three shows performed on Halloween weekend were sold-out.
Producer of the show, Brigid Martin, was more than satisfied with the weekend's performances. "I was so pleased with how well everything went. We really got a great audience and not only did we get a lot of people, they were really into it, they got the jokes and they had a good time, too," said Martin.
Martin put the show together with the help of Liz Muller, pianist and director of the show. She was hired three years ago to direct The Players' production of Grease and has been directing all of The Players' shows since then. "They did a great job," she said of the Halloween Cabaret. "I couldn't be prouder of them. They were fantastic."
Sean Lessard a freshman sung one of the first songs. He performed an exceptional rendition of "That's Life" and proved that he is a terrific addition to the group. Lessard says he is really enjoying being a member of the Players. When he came to Manhattan College he had no intention of joining the group. Bridgid was the reason he chose up. He jokes,"She said if I didn't she'd hurt me."
Lessard was not the only impressive performer of the cabaret. Lucas Salvagno blew the audience away as he belted out "El Matador" in Spanish. The ensemble joined him dancing, clapping and stamping their feet behind him. Salvagno undeniably had not only one of the best performances of the show, but one of the best voices as well.
The performers combined were equally as impressive. One of the most exciting parts of the show was when the entire ensemble sang an a cappella version of R.E.M.'s "It's the End of the World as We Know It." Lessard, lead the ensemble and remarkably sang every word without losing his breath. The song was notably well done and entertaining.
What made The Afterlife most enjoyable were the costumes and creativity of the song choices. Each costume was appropriate for the song sung. Liam Mulligan, Professor of Music and Director of Performing Arts at Manhattan College loved this aspect of the cabaret. "What I liked most about it," he said, "is the creativity in the numbers that you wouldn't actually think are having to deal with Halloween at all. They're not doing 'The Monster Mash'."
The creativity made for many laughs during several performances, including Rose Molina's. Dressed as a dead Amelia Earhart, she sang, "Leavin' on a Jet Plane."

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