Pitt-Greensburg Theater Company’s “Fun Home:” Review

The Pitt-Greensburg Theater Company presented its opening night of “Fun Home” last Thursday, April 11. “Fun Home” is a Tony award-winning musical adapted from Alison Bechdel’s autobiographical graphic novel. This production, spearheaded by Assistant Professor of Theater Dr. Christina Allaback, is a testament to live student theater and the musical arts, as well as the immense talent of the students at Pitt-Greensburg.

“Fun Home” tells the tale of a grown woman, a self-proclaimed “lesbian cartoonist,” reflecting on her tumultuous childhood as she comes into her own, all while navigating a relationship built on secrets and lies with her father who, at the end of the musical, commits suicide.

The set was simple but powerful, with furniture and doorframes coming together to make a modest-looking home, the songs ran the gamut from jaunty and upbeat to melancholic and tear-jerking, and the performances felt natural and poignant.

Every single member of the cast shone in not just their acting abilities but their impressive singing voices. All the actresses who played each iteration of Alison (Small Alison, Medium Alison, and Alison) successfully intertwined the respective versions of Alison and her growth arc seen throughout the musical. This interconnection culminated in the final song of the show, with each Alison singing different melodies to coalesce into one harmonious finale. 

Not only were the actors in main roles supremely talented, but even less showcased actors in the production were easily able to keep up vocally and dramatically. There was not a single hole in the cast talent-wise.

The unsung heroes of every production are undoubtedly the crew who manned the technological and logistical aspects of the performance. Without stage managers, set and lighting designers, make-up artists, and more, there is no show. As far as opening night went, the members of the crew seamlessly pulled off all tech-related aspects of the show with not one hiccup to speak of.

Music was provided live from the pit by Pitt-Greeenbsurg’s instrumental ensemble the Campana Consort. With how impressive the consort’s performance was, it was at times, hard to remember that the music was played live and not sourced from a prerecorded track. 

“Fun Home” is a powerful musical that beautifully weaves together a story of trauma, self-realization, and ultimately, acceptance. Each dramatic, funny, or sorrowful beat was hit right on the head by Pitt-Greensburg’s Theater Company in a prime example of the relevance and cruciality of student theater.