Cappies Review: McLean High School Turns 'Claudio Quest' Into Reality

By Maryn Brown of Westfield High School

From 8-bit to HD, it's Game On! at McLean High School's imaginative production of "Claudio Quest."

McLean High School is the first high school to turn "Claudio Quest," written by Drew Fornarola and Marshall Pailet, into reality. "Claudio Quest" premiered in 2010 and in 2015, won six awards at the New York Musical Theatre Festival. With inspiration from the beloved Super Mario Bros game, the musical combines nostalgic visuals and sounds with lovable characters. The charm and creativity that make this absurd parody enjoyable are matched with hilarious one-liners, unrelenting expressiveness, and talented vocals from across the cast.

The story begins with Claudio, the hero, and his younger brother Luis. Princess Poinsettia has been captured once again by the preposterous purple platypus, Bruiser. Not to fear, for Claudio is here! Only this time, he isn't his usual heroic self. Luis must take on the role of Player One with the help of Poinsettia's unconventional younger sister, Fish. The three set off on another adventure to save the Eggplant Kingdom.

Nathan Bass played the gentle younger brother, Luis. Bass displayed a lovable character as well as impeccable vocal control in the songs "Player 2" and "Warp Tube" in which he shared a duet with Princess Fish, played by Miranda Simpson. Simpson was a consistent burst of energy throughout the performance. From the moment she cartwheeled on stage, it was clear she wasn't just any other princess. Their chemistry made for an endearing story of empowerment and courage.

Noah Chlan, as Claudio himself, masterfully took on the persona of the triumphant, yet tender, hero. The unlikely duo of Bruiser, Idil Erdoğan, and Poinsettia, Audrey Link, had the audiences roaring. The rich register of Erdogan's song "Platypus Heart" and the sweet soprano voice of Link encapsulated the contradictory feelings of Bruiser and the royal innocence of Poinsettia. The playful dynamic between the two and their strong vocals reigned supreme in the Eggplant Kingdom.

The cohesiveness of the ensemble of The Eggplants supported several musical numbers at Saturday's performance, such as "A or B," a clever song about difficult choices with difficult vocals. The, quite literally, unspoken heroes of the production were the two brothers controlling the game. As silent performers, Brooke Howard and Charlotte Carson used symbolic imagery and bold expressions to show the parallels between the virtual world and reality.

The coordination between the stage manager, Rebecca Sullivan, and the lighting, sound, and run crew further immersed the audience. Jolie Korfonta and Alex Elders's use of vibrant colored lights worked in tandem with the sound cues (Dillon Prestidge, Emma Springer, and Megan Wright) to create the video game setting.

The MHS set crew and special effects (Megan Wright, Ethan Jones, and Alessandro Martinat-Pillhaca) transported audiences to the pixelated world. Costumes (Izzy Boon, Anushka Parashar, Jane Shanks, and Kyra Taube) and make-up (Emery Graninger, Addie Harris, Maia Le, and Valentina Sedan) utilized bold hues to differentiate characters and add to the animated world.

The choreography was another unique aspect of this performance, Mira Bowen and Cami Diaz used the limited space to their advantage. Publicity for a show that is relatively unknown is crucial to its success, and Arielle Else, Idil Erdoğan, and Elizabeth Nourse did a fantastic job advertising. Kate Fontaine, Ian Massidda, and Nor Treibitz created intriguing props that the ensemble used at a professional standard.

"You cannot skip" out on McLean High School's retro production of "Claudio Quest."