Bellerose mounts a charming con

Bellerose Composite High School’s is showcasing its annual musical production with a true story about a genuine phony.

Catch Me If You Can is the incredible and not always believable tale of Frank Abagnale Jr., a ’60s teenage con man who stole millions and forged thousands of cheques flying around the world.

As one of the world’s most wanted imposters, Abagnale evaded top law enforcement agencies for several years. He assumed various identities posing among other things as an airline pilot, lawyer and doctor.

His remarkable story inspired Steven Spielberg’s 2002 splashy film starring Leonardo DiCaprio as con man Frank Abagale Jr. and Tom Hanks as dogged FBI agent Carl Hanratty.

“The kids are really excited about it. It’s so different from the Mary Poppins classic we did last year. Mary Poppins compared to Catch Me If You Can seems quite ponderous. Catch Me is fast, jazzy, glitzy and has a high-living Las Vegas feel,” said director Mark Samuel.

Catch Me If You Can runs Feb. 7 to 9 at the Arden Theatre.

Composer Marc Shaiman and lyricist Scott Wittman’s score sets the high-roller’s tone with high-stepping full cast numbers such as Live in Living Color and Jet Set, a snappy dance where pilots and Pan Am stewardesses dominate the stage.

And then there’s Pin Stripes, “a fun brat-pack number” where Frank Sr., a bush-league chiseler, tries to tell his son that people only see the surface. They only see the suit.

Of course, the heart of the play lies with Frank Jr.

“All the songs point to the illusion he is trying to live, but all he really wants is a home and family. But that can’t happen.”

The show is structured as a variety hour, a way for Frank Jr. to reveal his adventures. He is both the headline act and MC, and much of the show’s success lies squarely on his ability to charm the audience.

Ben Travers nabbed the role of the high-flying Abagnale, a role that demands a dash of Frank Sinatra mojo.

“Ben has an amazing voice. He’s very charming and quite engaging. He has a certain warmth that characterizes Frank.”

And Ned Matteo Nagtegaal plays his nemesis, special agent Carl Hanratty, a by-the-book guy who believes in the strict rule of law.

“Matteo is a capable singer and actor and he’s really taken on the role. With his sardonic humour, he’s taken on the crustiness of Carl. Matteo is able to pull off and carry the kind of weight the character needs.”

As a fully immersive production, Catch Me If You Can has involved more than 70 students as actors, musicians, design team, and stage and tech crew.

“This particular show is different from anything we’ve ever done. If you want to see high-paced action, quality singing and fantastic actors, this is the show to see. It’s a little edgier than past shows and it’s been a lot of fun to put up.”