What’s funny about deadly assassins, Russian agents and a Doomsday machine in the hands of a raving lunatic?
Everything, if you’re seated in Clarkston High School’s Performing Arts Center when The Pink Panther Strikes Again cast takes the stage for a hilarious performance Thursday and Friday evening.
The play, according to Dramatic Publishing, brings to life the world’s most unusual criminologist, Chief Inspector Jacques Clouseau’a role originally created by Peter Sellers.
The 32-member all-high school cast began rehearsals in early September to depict scenes of Clouseau as he fights for his life, and the future of all mankind, in what the publisher calls “the most bizarre and dangerous caper of his brilliantly successful and utterly clumsy career.”
‘I’ve got several very athletic young men and women doing a lot of stage combat,? said Jeff Tice, who produces and directs all the school’s stage productions. ‘We’ve really got a unique production.?
Sound effects and other theatrical surprises were also in store, he said, and, as a special bonus, the drama club has welcomed the addition of an original score written and performed by 1997 CHS grad Jimmy Territo
‘I met Jimmy when he was a freshman,? Tice said. ‘And he really impressed me then. I knew he was destined to be a stronghold here at the high school’and he ended up getting a role in every play he auditioned for while he was here.?
Tice is in his 16th year teaching in the school’s English language arts and Fine Arts departments.
“Jimmy was truly one of my favorite students of all time,? he said. ‘He was always tremendous fun to be around, always had great stories, always kept everyone loose.?
When Tice saw a production of The Pink Panther Strikes Again at Marian High School and found out Territo had written the score, he got in touch with his former student.
The two then worked together to tailor the score specifically for Clarkston’s production of the show.
‘It was a bunch of familiar tunes fitting to the action on the stage,? said Territo, who earned a Bachelor of Music in Composition as well as a Bachelor of Music in Education from the University of Michigan after graduating from CHS, ‘with a couple of original ideas, too, to tie everything together. But it was mostly improvised.?
Territo said he and Tice are “good friends” and stayed in touch after graduation.
‘Jeff was a good mentor to me after high school as far as education in general, but performing arts education, too,” he said. “Even while I was in high school, he was a good mentor, someone you could talk with through life issues.”
As a composer, Territo has written pieces that premiered at the hand of renowned directors and major orchestras. In May 2006, one of his original compositions premiered at Carnegie Hall.
Today, Territo wears a number of musical hats, teaching instrumental music to elementary and high school students at Detroit Country Day in Bloomfield Hills and also serves as music director at St. Daniel’s Catholic Church in Clarkston.
Territo will accompany the cast on piano, joined by fellow 1997 grads Dave Belch on saxophone, and Justin Harris on bass. Pat Saunders, a 1998 grad, will be on drums.
The performance at Clarkston High School takes placed at 7 p.m. Thurs., Nov 8 and Fri., Nov 9.
Tickets are $6 for seniors, $7 for adults, and can be reserved by calling 248-623-4024.