Spectrum Theatre staged the first of four performances of “Fun Home” Oct. 19, bringing the moving musical to an audience of friends, family members and fellow University students in the Student Activities Building. Spectrum is an independent student-run organization which aims to provoke dialogue through theatre, and “Fun Home” is a perfect fit for this objective, focusing on themes surrounding family, memory and queer identity.
“Fun Home” is an adaptation of lesbian cartoonist Alison Bechdel’s graphic memoir of the same name, with book and lyrics by Lisa Kron and music by Jeanine Tesori. The show depicts Alison’s developing understanding of her sexuality and complicated relationship with her closeted dad, who died by suicide shortly after her coming out.
The lead role is divided into three parts — Small, Medium and Big Alison — representing Alison as a kid, a college freshman and a 43-year-old. This adult Alison is in the process of transforming her memories into cartoons and serves to connect the show’s disparate points in time as she interrogates her past.
Playing any of the three Alisons requires a strong stage presence, and each actor in the Spectrum Theatre production delivers. Second-year College student Bridget Gauntner is a spunky Small Alison, especially skilled in her interpretation of “Ring of Keys” as Alison first identifies another queer person in public. Medium Alison is played by fourth-year College student Kathleen McNerney, whose irrepressible excitement in “Changing my Major” represents one of the show’s sweetest and funniest moments.
The role of Big Alison is one of a mediator — between present and past, between the audience and the action onstage. She often breaks the fourth wall to set the scene, and is nearly omnipresent, observing her own memories from the sidelines throughout the show. Fourth-year College student Lauren Swain is perfectly cast — she grounds the piece through her subtle evocation of Alison’s self-reflection.
First-year College student Julie Harbath stands out as Helen Bechdel, Alison’s mom — she’s a truly talented singer, her skill on display in “Days and Days” as Helen reveals her regrets to her daughter. First-year College student Cai Luzak expertly navigates the nuanced role of Bruce Bechdel, Alison’s dad, in a performance that’s both sympathetic and menacing in key moments.
Alison’s brothers are played by first-year College student Laila Bolté and first-year Architecture student Levi Green, who shine in “Come to the Fun Home.” The cast is rounded out by first-year College student Maggie Byrd as Alison’s first girlfriend Joan and first-year College student Hank Hawkins as a few of the boys with whom Bruce is involved.
“Fun Home” is an intimate show, and each cast member is a necessary part of the whole. The group’s cohesive energy is obvious in the opening of the musical and other ensemble numbers like “Raincoat of Love” — this unity is evidence of second-year College student Abby Milne’s skill as director and fourth-year College student Matthew Tucker's skill as assistant director. intricate harmonies attest to the efforts of the vocal directors, second-year College student Charlotte Mulligan and third-year College student Rachel Guo.
Scenic lead and assistant technical director Alyssa Bui, a first-year student in the College, uses elements of her understated set to effectively transition through space and time — a few furniture items indicate Alison’s parents’ home or her college dorm, signs propped up on a music stand advertise the Bechdel family funeral home or the Gay Student Union and a bench stands in for the front seats of a car in multiple scenes, forcing the actors playing driver and passenger to sit uncomfortably close to one another, building tension.
As noted by Milne in her director’s note, this production of “Fun Home” is the outcome of months of collaboration between creative University students. Each talented member of the Spectrum Theatre cast and production team clearly cares for this touching, timely show.
“Fun Home” ran in the Student Activities Building through Oct. 21.
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