News
Last week, love and mayhem were in the air as our Lower School Production debuted two brand new plays, featuring a cast and crew of more than forty.
Diamond Princess, an original farcical comedy written by Mrs Wright (Teacher of Drama) followed the maiden voyage of a brand-new cruise ship. Amiya G (McClure House) led an ensemble cast as the ship’s captain, attempting to maintain control as a plethora of pretentious passengers and incompetent crew helped the voyage descend into chaos and confusion.
The two night’s audiences were in stitches as Alfie C (Winfield House) and Kiyan I’s (Priestley House) duo of dim-witted thieves attempted to steal the jewellery of Ella K’s (Atkinson House) Lady Catherine, and at Max S’s (Weymouth House) Gordon Ramsey-esq chef relentlessly belittling his hapless waiter, played by Alexander A (Priestley House). A special performance by the Glee Club as the ship’s entertainers brought rapturous applause from audiences, with their Taylor Swift mash-up bringing glitz and glamour to the proceedings.
The night’s theatrical double-bill was completed with Pride and Prejudice, a new adaptation of Austen’s beloved novel written by Sofia L (Priestley House). The original script expertly transposed the action to 1910’s Britain, with Scarlett R’s (Priestley House) Elizabeth Bennett frustrating her family and acquaintances with her strong support for the Suffragettes and women’s right to work. She sparred continually with Edward I’s (Weymouth House) Mr Darcey, who managed to keep the audience rooting for him throughout despite the character’s unfavourable introduction.
Carl T-G (McClure House) and Ruby K (Priestley House) offered some of the play’s most emotive moments, as a Mr Bingley and Jane Bennett are torn apart by war. Alex C (School House) supported the action with a wonderful lighting design; Sofia and Miss Turner’s (Teacher of English) direction was energetic and engaging, driven along with choreography and an enticing musical score.
The audience reception for both plays was fantastic, with the strong performances from all cast members being praised alongside the original scripts. We look forward to seeing many of you at our production of Blue Stockings next term.
Mr Gatherer
Director of Theatrical Performance
