Vernon Township High School presents SUGAR

On March 29 the curtain rises on Vernon Township High School’s production of Bob Merrill, Jule Styne and Peter Stone’s SUGAR. From the hilarious screen success “Some Like It Hot,” SUGAR comes to the stage with the same memorable characters that made the screenplay so popular. Joe and Jerry, two musicians down on their luck in Chicago, by chance witness a gang rub-out. The rub-out was ordered by Spats Palazzo, a notorious Chicago hood, played by Peter Chianchiano. Spats and his boys immediately chase after Joe, played by Nick Wolf, and Jerry, played by Andrew Gallagher. Spats is determined to silence them as witnesses to the crime. Desperate for a quick way out of town, Joe and Jerry hear about jobs available for a saxophone and a bass player, which are their specialties. And coincidently, the band is scheduled to leave at once for Florida. There is only one problem: the band is all female. As Joe and Jerry, they haven’t got a chance, but with a bit of costuming, padding, makeup and slight voice adjustments, they become Josephine and Daphne. They are hired by “Sweet Sue (Kristina Bolduc) and her Society Syncopators.” Joe (Josephine) and Jerry (Daphne) find themselves getting well acquainted with Sugar, the gorgeous blonde who is the featured singer with the band. Sugar, performed by Ashley Kraus, confides to Josephine and Daphne that she plans to find a millionaire in Florida and get married. She even tells them what he will look like. Hearing this, Joe develops a plan. By disguising himself as her “dream-man,” Joe is confident that he can win her heart. After she falls in love with him, he plans to tell her the truth about himself. While Joe is busy impressing Sugar with his newfound wealth, Jerry (alias Daphne) has attracted her own millionaire. Sir Osgood Fielding, portrayed by Eugene Steficek, is determined to woo and win Daphne. She is not quite certain how to break the bad news to him, especially since he showers her with lavish gifts. Four faculty members, Chuck McKay, Marc Bray, John Getz and Angelo Romano, make a “special guest appearance” as the Millionaire Quartet, singing, “November Song.” With the unwitting help of Sir Osgood, Joe makes a big impression on Sugar. Now Joe only needs to tell her the truth about his identity, since he thinks that if she really loves him it won’t matter that he is not a millionaire. Unfortunately, before he gets the opportunity to tell her, Spats Palazzo and his gang arrive in town and recognize Josephine and Daphne in the band. The chase is on. Eventually the villains get what they deserve, and the lovers are reunited. Performances are on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, March 29, 30 and 31 at 7:30 p.m. in the Vernon High School auditorium. Tickets are available in advance by calling 973-764-2960 ext. 9130, or at the door, and are $7 for students and senior citizens and $9 for adults. Barri Weinstein directs, Katie Baldwin is musical director and Dana Ziegler is the choreographer.