Raven Players to present ‘Copacabana’ on RHS stage
By Joanne Degnan, Staff Writer
ROBBINSVILLE — The lyrics set to an infectious Latin beat are familiar to nearly everyone on the planet: “Her name was Lola, she was a showgirl…”
The glittering world of the Copa girl with the “yellow feather in her hair and the dress cut down to there” that Barry Manilow immortalized in his catchy, campy Grammy award-winning song comes to Robbinsville High School on Friday night when the Raven Players open their production of “Copacabana.”
”If you know the words of the song, you know the basic story,” explains senior Paul McGlew, who has the role of Sam Silver, the gruff but kind owner of the Copacabana, aka the “the hottest spot north of Havana.”
There’s love, jealously and murder in this musical comedy about the star-crossed lovers Tony Forte and Lola La Mar, played by juniors Matt Delre and Karis Gallant, but be prepared for a few surprises along the way because not everything turns out the same way as in the 1978 hit song.
“His name was Rico, he wore a diamond…”
That would be junior Gabriel Giraldo, who plays the villain Rico Castelli, the owner of the Tropicana nightclub in Havana. Rico is so captivated by Lola’s performance at the Copacabana that he drugs her, kidnaps her and brings her to his own club in Cuba, Gabriel says. Rico’s plan is have Lola replace his girlfriend, the fading star Conchita Alvarez, as the Tropicana’s headline performer.
This sets the stage for Tony the bartender and his friends at the Copacabana to try to rescue Lola from Rico’s clutches, and when they arrive clueless in Cuba they find a willing ally in the spurned Conchita, played by junior Abbie Coggins.
Abbie says Conchita is a fun role to play because of the way the character evolves from Lola’s jealous enemy to her friend and protector.
”She starts out being a villain, but then she’s transformed,” Abbie says.
Gabriel describes his role as Rico as a “really creepy kind of challenge” because he’s never played a villain in a play before.
”I’m used to being a good guy,” Gabriel says, laughing.
The production is English teacher Rebekah Territo’s directorial debut at RHS, although she has done this particular musical before when she taught at New Egypt High School in Plumsted Township.
There are 35 students in the play itself and a crew of 15 working behind the scenes to pull it all together, including the student set designer, senior Namrata Barbhaiya, and the student stage manager, junior Andrea Miller, Ms. Territo said.
The leaders of the student crew shadow faculty with corresponding roles throughout the 12 weeks of rehearsals. For example, Namrata’s faculty counterpart overseeing set design is English teacher Michelle Rubano, and Andrea works closely with Ms. Territo.
”On opening night we turn it all over to the kids,” Ms. Territo said, noting she will be sitting in the audience while Andrea takes over as director.
Andrea, the stage manager/student director of two previous RHS plays, says she’s confident that the production will be a success.
”Everything has been running smoothly so far,” Andrea said, noting the only problem she sometimes has is keeping the actors quiet on the set at rehearsals.
”They all love to talk, even when they’re not suppose to, “ Andrea says with a smile.
Tickets for “Copacabana” cost $10 for students or senior citizens, and $12 for adults. Performances are scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 25 and 26, as well as a 3 p.m. matinee performance Sunday, March 27.
For more information, see the RHS website at http://www.robbinsville.k12.nj.us/robbinsvillehs.

