Ultimately, OLO’s ‘Student Prince’ touches the heart

Once again, the OLO orchestra, cast, costumes and set create a night or matinee of winning theater right in Wooster’s own backyard. “The Student Prince” is in turn rousingly comedic and touchingly poignant with a lavish offering of songs ranging from “Drink! Drink! Drink!” to the tender “Deep in My Heart, Dear.”

The operetta is set in 1860 and tells the story of a young prince enjoying a much-awaited year of freedom away at school before assuming his staid duties as king. While away he shirks his princely persona, jumps wholeheartedly into student life and falls in love.

Of course, as prince he is already betrothed and must face a difficult decision when he learns the time has come for him to assume his duties as ruler. Spoiler alert, the ending, beautifully portrayed, is not what one might expect.

Prior to opening on Broadway in 1924, “The Student Prince” producers were quite concerned about composer Sigmund Romberg’s operatic music and his insistence on a male chorus. Those concerns were, however, quickly laid to rest when the show opened to rave reviews. It ran for 608 performances, gave rise to nine touring companies, and was made into a silent film in 1927 and a 1954 movie.

The Ohio Light Opera cast of “The Student Prince” form a seamless ensemble, each bringing their unique talents, style and voice to their character. From the moment the curtain opens with the Four Lackeys singing “By Our Bearing So Sedate,” it’s apparent the audience is in for a treat — and that there will definitely be moments that are anything but sedate.

As in both the other OLO shows this season, everyone in the cast is worthy of mention. The Students not only fill the stage with their resounding voices, they march, dance and carouse with precision when called for and abandon when needed.

Kathie, beautifully played by Lauren Nash Silberstein in her third OLO season, fills the stage with her exquisite voice. And local residents and OLO regulars will delight at seeing Wooster’s own Spiro Matsos back on the OLO stage for his 39th season.

Vincent Gover as Lutz, the prince’s pompous valet, is spot on with his characterization.

And Grand Duchess Anastasia, grandly played by Michelle Pedersen, is delightfully over the top with her swooning and swooning and swooning some more. James Mitchell plays Ruder, the proprietor of The Golden Apple, where all the school antics occur, with just the right touch of humor. The skilled and emotive voices of the talented OLO cast fill the theater, physical comedy abounds exactly where needed eliciting delight from the appreciative audience, and, ultimately, the story of “The Student Prince” touches the heart.

If an operetta is your cup of, um, beer, grab a stein and prepare to toast to the King!