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Overcast The ’20s comes to St. William
Catholic School to host ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie’
“Thoroughly Modern Millie” returns to Seaford this week, but this time the play takes place at a different venue and with a younger cast.
St. William the Abbot School will host two performances of the show, which was produced earlier this month by the Seaford High School Drama Club. The play is set in 1922 and focuses on Millie Dillmount, who moves from Kansas to New York City in hopes of marrying a rich man. She meets the carefree Jimmy Smith, who eventually falls in love with Millie.
The two leads will be played by seventh-grader Daniel Cantanno and eighth-grader Mary Kate Kiley. Cantanno described Jimmy Smith as a rich man with a swagger, but someone who doesn’t want to be loved for his money.
Both have performed on the St. William stage in the past. Last year, Cantanno was Nicely Nicely Johnson in “Guys and Dolls” and Kiley was a hot box girl. Two years ago she was Tessie in “Annie Jr.”
For Kiley, Millie is her biggest role to date. “There’s definitely more lines and more pressure,” she said, “and you get more stage time which is fun.” She added that she resembles her character in that she “doesn’t take guff” from others.
Kiley said she likes the musical numbers in the show, particularly “Forget About the Boy” early in the second act.
Cantanno noted that he has more lines this year, and also has to do more singing. “It’s a real interesting play,” he said. “It has some really good humor. The characters are really funny.”
Other lead roles include Michael Disler as Mr. Graydon, Fiona Wheeler as Miss Dorothy, Meredith Muirhead as Mrs. Flannery and Emma Egan as Mrs. Meers. There is a total cast of 60 students, who have been rehearsing since October.
The co-directors are Patricia Milteer, Alice Cromarty and Barbara Bentley. Milteer’s daughter, Tina, is leading the choreography. Many parents have been volunteering their time to build the sets, with assistance from students in Kim Hirten’s art club. A former priest at St. William, the Rev. Paul Butler, is also lending a hand.
Milteer said the directors chose “Thoroughly Modern Millie” because it has lots of dancing and lots of music. She said that the children are working hard to get ready for opening night, which is this Thursday.
“We feel they’re doing an outstanding job,” she said. “Their spirit is in it.”
There will be two evening performances in the school gym. Kiley expects the show to be a huge success, and the cast is excited for opening night.
“Everybody in it really wants to be in it,” she said, “and everybody’s going to give it their all.”
