The California Middle School choral students presented performances of "Bugsy Malone Jr." Saturday and Sunday at the high school.
The spoof "gangster" musical, set in New York, is based loosely on the New York and Chicago gang activity from the early 1920s to 1931, during Prohibition. Since the performance is based in a city populated with only early teen and younger people, and the "machine guns" are "splurge" guns which shoot silly string, it is best described as "very loosely" based on the gang activity. Anyone "splurged" is "finished."
The action starts with Roxy Robinson, a mobster working with speakeasy-boss Fat Sam, being "splurged" by members of Dandy Dan's gang. Fat Sam is concerned that Dandy Dan is trying to take over the speakeasy. As the performance continued, the singing and dancing in the speakeasy scenes, as well as gang members singing and dancing on the street, provided entertainment for the audience, while several speaking scenes set up the basic theme of the story.
Bugsy Malone, who brings in aspiring singer Blousey Brown for an audition, is hired by Fat Sam to use his brains to help him beat Dandy Dan. There is a lot of interplay among the performers, including "splurging" and stealing of some crates from a dock, possibly containing more "splurge" guns. In the end, the large crowd performs "You Give a Little Love," realizing they can all be friends. Bugsy and Blousey leave for Hollywood.
The performance is based on a 1976 British musical gangster film "Bugsy Malone," which featured only child actors. The film is now considered a cult favorite.
The musical numbers were, in order of performance, "Bugsy Malone," "Fat Sam's Grand Slam", That's Why they call Him Dandy Dan," "Tomorrow," "Show Business," "Bad Guys," "Ordinary Fool," "My Name Is Tallulah," "Down and Out," "Fat Sam's Grand Slam," and "Give a Little Love."
The characters and students were: Bugsy Malone - Dawson Gump, Roxy Robinson - Alayna Butts, Bronx Charlie - Bryant Davis, Laughing Boy - Eric Horne, Benny Lee - Preston Miller, Yonkers - Emma Borts, Fizzy - Bryson Hoskins, Pop Becker - Diego Vasquez, Blousey Brown - Lauren Hill, Fat Sam - Trenton Irey, Talulah - Grace Porter, Dandy Dan - Garrett Burger Louella - Addilyn Williams, Butler - Jakson Warren, Tillie - Rylee Hees, Loretta - Ricky Runk, Dotty - Lauren Spillars, Velma - Elizabeth Shewmake, Bangles - Dylan Henley, Knuckles - Emanuel Isidro, Doodle - Joseph Charles, Paperboy - Cole Kirksey, Radio announcer - Lauren Friedrich, Ritzy - Brayden Holt, Angelo - Dalton Carey, Shake Down Louis - KaLynn Irey, Shoulders - DJ Schneider, Snake eyes - Mikayla Diehls, Razzmatazz - Brehn Skinner, Opera Singer - Zoey Rimel, Oscar De Velt - Madison McCord, Marbini the Magician - DJ Schneider, Ventriloquist (with dummy) - Emma Russell and Sarah Kirby, Lena Morelli - Gabby Rohrbach, Trumpet Player - Lanie Holtsclaw, Chorus Girls - Kate Friener, Kyle combs, Lydia bandsman, Joann Olmedo, Addilyn Williams, Gabby Rohrbach and Emma Russell.