To this day, I still watch Disney movies all the time. From Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, to Hercules, to Frozen, each movie has characters who I absolutely love, characters whom scare the living bejeebies out of me, songs that I can jam out to and songs that I despise. One character and movie soundtrack (aside from Woody from Toy Story, which is my personal favorite) that really sticks out to me is the high flying, apeman named Tarzan. Tarzan was the guy all boys in grade school wanted to grow up to be; strong, tan, beautiful hair. I was actually jealous I wasn’t allowed to grow my hair out that long as a kid, I even thought about running away to the jungle so that I would be able to, but that never happened.
Tarzan was the man. Literally, if the song “The Man” by Aloe Blacc was around in 1999, it could have played throughout half the movie, and we would all have been okay with that. Especially when he decided to slay the leopard, and then showed off the limp body to his gorilla friends and Kerchak. Tarzan saving Jane from the little monkeys, which scared everyone who has ever watched the movie (they’re lying if the say differently), while swinging on a bunch of vines was pretty sweet too. Tarzan “did it for the vine” you could say. On Thursday May 8 at 7 p.m., the combined Cathedral Prep and Villa Maria theater programs will present the musical “Tarzan,” which is loosely based off of Disney’s version.
Cathedral Prep junior Sam Sweny will play the lead role of Tarzan. He will be joined by Villa Maria junior Amy Estes playing the role of Jane. Sam has been in four shows so far in his third year at Prep, and for the first time he will be the lead role, although he has played a principle part in the past, so he is no “Stranger Like Me.”
Sam got the lead role as Tarzan by going into auditions very optimistically stating, “I knew if I sang my butt off I would get the lead.” When asked if his acting had anything to do with it, and who he channeled as a role model when he is acting Sam told me, “Mark Wahlberg and Ben Affleck. They both are really good at their craft, and they’ve been going at it from such a young age kind of like me.” Sam also looks like a mix of these two fine actors, which might contribute to that too.
Aside from all the classic Disney songs that will appear throughout the night, “Tarzan’s” atmosphere is what really separates this show from those of the past. “This atmosphere is hectic,” Sweny acclaimed. “It has a lot of high energy.”
This show is sure to be one of the best shows Prep and Villa will ever put on. There are so many aspects to this play, and a lot of people behind the scenes. Everyone I’ve talked to have even said this is one of the most technical shows that the program has ever done. Though “Tarzan” will prove to be a great challenge, the cast and crew will be able to come through and execute what they have been practicing for almost two months, so do something different and come out to support your fellow Ramblers and Victors sometime this weekend.