Love and elitism can reliably be leaned upon to create a great romantic comedy, especially if you mix in a bunch of musical theater into the production. That is the theory that the Princeton Triangle Club will be bringing their “Aisle Be Damned” production to Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre at the Michigan League on January 21.
“No expense will be spared when a wealthy prodigal daughter walks her nobody-fiancé down the aisle—or will she? A-list guests, royal ex-boyfriends, and boy bands all have something to say about the match—or mismatch?—of the century,” is how the show is described by the troupe’s website. “Clutch your pearls because this new musical comedy about love, trust funds, and family dysfunction will make you say ‘I do!’ Will love persevere, in sickness and in wealth? Find out in Aisle Be Damned!”
Anyone who is a fan of rom coms will like this production, according to the organizers. It follows the story of a couple who are about to be married, unless the bride’s high society family gets in the way.
“I would definitely highlight a scene where a phone call interrupts the initial wedding,” Kavya Bhat, vice-president of the Princeton Triangle, said. “They get some shocking news… and that shocking news turning the whole world upside down.”
The Princeton Triangle Club is a collegiate performing arts troupe that has operated out of Princeton University since 1891. According to the university, their productions are fully written, and performed by students with direction and choreography done by professionals.
They tour the country regularly and are known for their famous kick line, which they incorporate into every performance. Alumni of the troupe often use it to launch their careers in the arts.
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“It basically set me on track to start the career I have now in musical theater,” Peter Mills, a PTC alumnus who has made his career as a playwright in New York, said. He seems delighted to get the chance to come back and contribute as the show’s musical director. “It was kind of nice to see the students interested in writing that essentially is about a relationship; boy meets girl, boy gets girl, looses girl, they get back together at the end. It has the traditional trappings of a rom com. Everything is a bit heightened and more triangular, but I thought the plot was very strong this year. A lot of times the level of absurdity is such that you don’t invest emotionally in quite the same way. But here I think they gave us a central story and really root for the main characters, and hope they end up together.”
This is a one night performance, which will begin at 7:30pm. This show is recommended for anyone 13 or older.
Students can get in for as little as $13.50. U of M alumni from the classes of 2021 through 2025 can get in for $24. The most expensive seats go for as much as $256.50.
Drew Saunders is a freelance business and environmental journalist who grew up just outside of Ann Arbor. He covers local business developments, embraces his foodie side with reviews restaurants, obsesses over Michigan's environmental state, loves movies, and feels spoiled by the music he gets to review for Ann Arbor!
