Rising up: Corporate laughter

What if there were a book instructing how to climb to the top of the corporate world with barely any effort? That is exactly what happened in Holy Ghost Preparatory School's presentation of

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.

Winner of the 1962 Pulitzer Prize for drama, How to Succeed also received seven Tony Awards, and it's no wonder why. Based on a novel by Shepherd Mead and later adapted to a musical by Frank Loesser, it is a charming tale of a young window washer named Finch (played by Brian Bateman) who discovers a book that promises to help him get to the top of the business world. Along the way he meets Rosemary (Jessica Dignam) and her quirky friend, Smitty (Samantha Mosca), who promise to help him get to the top. Finch's nemesis, the boss' nephew, Frump (Ken Sullivan), continues to try to knock him off the ladder of success.

One of the most outstanding actors was Finch himself. With superb vocals and strong acting, Bateman remained strong throughout the performance. Alongside Bateman, Dignam gave a convincing performance, the highlight being her vocals in "Happy to Keep His Dinner Warm" and all of its reprises. Humor was brought to the show by Erica-Anne Bosman, playing the attractive but incompetent secretary, Hedy. As Frump, Sullivan continuously added laughs throughout the whole performance.

With energetic and amusing songs like "Coffee Break," "A Secretary Is Not a Toy," and "Paris Original," the cast of How to Succeed in Business knew how to succeed in theater. Despite a few minor technical difficulties, the performers provided a commendable rendition of this classic musical.