I've never really been a fan of the "Luann" comic strip, or comics in general, but I had at least a working knowledge of the comic before seeing the musical stage adaptation at Palomar College on March 8th. Truth be told, I went to see it because I had a friend who was cast as Luann's mother.
Luann is pretty much a comic about an ordinary girl, who has ordinary friends and faces ordinary, everyday situations and problems. The play never deviated much from this- Luann goes to school, hates gym class, has a crush on a boy who doesn't know she exists, hates the pretty girls, and doesn't know what to do when she accidentally plans a party without her parents knowing about it. There was nothing really shocking or surprising about the story, yet it still had a kind of charm to it.
The stage was something to be admired. Using very minimal props, they were able to create a living room, bedroom, fast food restaurant, and several different school locations. This was achieved by using a few strategic set pieces, such a prop center stage that could be converted from a seat to a table, and a bridge that served as a backdrop to the stage. There was also a large, back lit projector screen, which was used for scene transitions, as well as a few creative scenes, such as where Luann is dreaming about the guy she likes. She stands on the left of the stage, while the actor who plays the guy is up on the bridge, with a thought bubble appearing in the projector screen. His confused acting made this scene that much funnier, and the whole thing was pulled off very well.
None of the songs really stood out for me, but great performances by the ensemble made them easily likable. I think, on the whole, Luann the Musical capture the feeling of the comic strip- kind of easy going, and something everyone can find enjoyment in.
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