Singing, dancing and humor: Thank heaven for the VPA

On Scene, by Amy Menerey

VPA's "Gigi" started out with the wonderful voice of Tim Gillard as Honore Lachailles, singing "Thank Heaven for Little Girls," a song I remembered from childhood but had trouble placing with its source, until Saturday night's show.

The cast did a fabulous job, particularly Gillard, Ted Carney as Gaston Lachailles, Suzette Walling as Aunt Alicia and Cynthia Lee as Gigi's grandmother, Inez Alvarez. But none shone as brightly as Barrianne Perkins in her first starring role, as Gigi.

Perkins, a Colony a High School sophomore, was brilliant as the young woman being trained as a courtesan in turn-of-the-century France. Perkins is a veteran of the stage -- she has performed with the Alaska Children's Choir for seven years and performed with VPA for the last five -- and it showed. Her acting was superb and her voice strong and clear.

VPA's rendition of Gigi -- dubbed the "quintessential Gigi" by director Grant Olson -- is a musical comedy, full of one-liners and filled with much more sexual innuendo than I recalled in the screen version -- of course, I was just a little girl myself when I last saw the film.

Honore Lachailles is an elderly gentleman with a passion for women. His nephew, Gaston, is a wealthy sugar heir who never lets the audience forget he is bored with the game of love and life in general. His life is "night after night of joy, revelry, ecstasy -- it's been a nightmare," he tells his uncle. It is only when in the company of the young Gigi in her simple household that Gaston loosens up, relaxes and is happy.

Gigi, meanwhile, has been under the instruction of her Aunt Alicia to become a successful courtesan. Alicia carefully imposes on Gigi the importance of getting everything she can from a man before he tires of her. Alicia and Gigi's grandmother, Mamita, want to be certain Gigi leaves her humble beginnings by learning the proper etiquette of a kept woman.

By present-day American standards Gigi would be a prostitute, Alicia a pimp and Gaston and his uncle, players. Gaston's interest in the young girl (Gigi's exact age is not disclosed) would also be questionable today. It is important to remember that when this story was written by Colette in 1940, and produced as a play and later on film in the 1950s, it was understood and accepted that in 1900 France some women were for marrying, and others were not, as Honore Lachailles tells the audience in the beginning.

It was not socially unacceptable, in fact, rather the opposite, for women to use their charms to gain wealth. The smart woman did not "give it away," but was well compensated in return for any possible blemish or notoriety. Thus Gigi was being trained to be an entertainer, a pastime, much to her dislike. She has little understanding of her aunt's explanations of "love."

When Gaston's interest in Gigi changes from that of an endearing family friend to that of a potential sugar daddy, Gigi's "training" is stepped up -- this turns out to be a fatal flaw in their relationship. Without giving too much away, the story that unfolded in the tiny Machetanz theatre last weekend was about being yourself and love transcending social expectations.

Although the second half of the play seemed to drag on a bit, with the songs lasting slighter longer than the audience's attention span, it was very well done and overall extremely enjoyable. The atmosphere of the Machetanz theater adds as much to the play as the actual performance. The up-close and personal stage invites you into the story, and the set changes that included an occasional misplacement of furniture, a scrape along the floor or drop of a prop added a hometown atmosphere while audience members enjoyed a first-rate performance.

Watching this play gave me a renewed interest in the history of courtship, an appreciation of VPA's local talent and a desire to run out and rent the 1958 award-winning film version, just for fun.

"Gigi" will be playing at the Machetanz Theatre in Wasilla through Dec. 9, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., with Sunday matinees starting at 2 p.m. Tickets for "Gigi" are $18.50 for adults and $16 for youth and seniors.

They are available at all CARRS TIX outlets or by calling 1-800-478-7328. For pictures and more information, visit the VPA Web site at valleyperformingarts.org.

Amy Menerey is a page designer at the Frontiersman who is pursuing a bachelor's degree in art at Mat-Su College/UAA.