Though the shows central relationship is that of a ten-year old boy and his irrepressible Aunt, there’s a strong father-son vibe at the center of the Sterling Community Theatre Troupes production of the classic Broadway musical Mame. The show will be part of Sterlings Old Fashioned Fourth of July celebration next at 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 3, and Saturday, July 5, and at 3 p.m. on Sunday, July 6, in the Sterling High School Theatre.
Family is core in this show and family is core for our Theatre Troupe, states Dennis Dutton, director of the production. The story of Mame centers around a 10-year-old orphaned Midwestern boy who is taken to live with eccentric, bigger-than-life Aunt in New York City at the height of Roaring 20s.
Sterling fifth grader Noah Svaty is playing the ten-year-old Patrick Dennis who is at the center of the show. This is his first non-school theatre production but he has been around theatre productions before as his father Seth Svaty has been featured in leading roles both in Sterling and Hutchinson. He is playing two roles in Mame, the title characters love interest the Southern gentleman Beauregarde Jackson Pickett Burnside and one of her faithful entourage publisher Lindsay Woolsey. A third member of the Svaty family will also be featured in the show: eight-year-old Micah will be in the shows final scene.
The Svatys are the son and grandsons of Don and Niki Svaty of Ellsworth.
“It’s been so much fun having my sons involved this year,” comments father Svaty. “I can see that they really enjoy this as much as I do.”
“I knew I wanted to be involved in theatre way back in kindergarten,” explains Noah. “I’ve seen my dad on stage being really funny in shows like The Drowsy Chaperone and Curtains and I just knew I wanted to do that, too.”
Mame is a challenging show on many fronts, Dutton says. Although it is really a classic. It isn’t done very often because it is such a big show with all its costume and set demands plus the challenge of finding a believable, winning child to put at the center. The Sterling production will include over 40 characters, 100 costumes, 16 sets and a dozen songs by songwriter Jerry Herman, known for another female-centered Broadway classic, Hello, Dolly!.  
“There are only a handful of major musicals that center on children. Besides Annie, Oliver and The Sound of Music there just aren’t that many,” explains Dutton. “I knew Mame would be a show all ages would enjoy but the role of young Patrick is a challenge. Having seen Noah in church and school productions, I knew he had the potential to handle a role like this. And he has proven to be the proverbial chip off the old block. Not only is he sharp and quick on his feet but hes natural and genuine,” Dutton explains.
“I’ve been surprised that it really hasn’t been as much work as I thought it would be,” comments Noah. “It’s really all been very fun, especially the dancing.” He admits to being a little nervous at first. “I was kinda nervous about having a leading role and having all those lines to memorize but through the rehearsal process, I’ve gotten comfortable with what Im doing.”
Co-starring with Noah Svaty will be Sterling High School theatre teacher Betsy Dutton as Mame. “Noah has been a delight to work with. He’s taking this seriously and certainly wants to do his best. He’s great to interact with onstage. He looks you straight in the eye and maintains his concentration, which is something a lot people much older than him struggle with.”
The two share a tender moment mid-way through Act One in the song My Best Girl which Patrick sings to his Aunt to bolster her spirits. In a show that has several huge production numbers, this simple song really tugs at the heart strings. “Noah’s sweet, natural singing voice and his earnestness make the song a real highlight of the show,” Dutton says.
When asked what the show is about, Noah Svaty says, “I think the message is to enjoy life as a kid and don’t grow up too fast. Plus its good to laugh.” His father sees the show through his own lens saying, “I think there are multiple messages but what I take from it is an encouragement to be myself unapologetically; to live boldly through all manner of challenges and experiences. In the end I hope people leave the show feeling entertained and already wondering what next summers show will be.”
Tickets for the Sterling production of Mame are $8 for adults and $5 for students and will be available at the door beginning one hour before each performance.