North High School Junior Players will present The Threepenny Opera, a dark tale of intrigue and deception, by Kurt Weill and Berthold Brecht. Three evening performances will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 17 to 19, plus a Saturday matinée will be performed at 2 p.m., in the school’s auditorium at 35 Polo Rd.
A thinly veiled commentary on the state of European politics and society in the years following World War I, the play employs many of Brecht’s revolutionary ideas, particularly that of alienation. Set in Victorian London, a hive of infamy, theatergoers are introduced to the machinations of Macheath (Mack the Knife) and his entourage. Macheath marries Polly Peachum, which displeases her father, who controls the beggars of London. Peachum’s father endeavors to have Macheath hanged, but his attempts are hindered since the police chief is Macheath’s old army buddy. Peachum’s father exerts his influence and, eventually, gets Macheath arrested and sentenced to be hanged. The musical comes alive with songs including “Mack the Knife” and “Pirate Jenny.”
Play direction is by Ilana Meredith Schikler, musical direction by Dr. Janine Robinson, orchestra preparation/conductor by Joseph Rutkowski, choreography by Michael Blevins and design by Neil Saggerson, the fine and performing arts department head.
For ticket information, call 516-441-4743 or contact Schikler at ischikler@greatneck.k12.ny.us.
