Highlight of the Week

Senior Summer Show

What a high to end the year on with the fantastic production of Guys and Dolls.

While we have been very fortunate to have been able to produce a number of different productions during Covid restrictions, this is the first time in three years that we have been able to perform a full-scale musical with no restrictions on live audience. The students have worked incredibly hard since the beginning of March, juggling exams, sports fixtures, concerts and many other activities among their rehearsals to bring together what many audience members described as ‘the best show they’ve seen at the school’. This was wonderful to hear and was testament to the hard work and talent that was on display. As a Drama teacher, I am incredibly fortunate to work with such gifted, enthusiastic and resilient pupils. Their ability to rise to the biggest of challenges never fails to amaze me and this was certainly a challenge, with complex set changes, learning lines, complex harmonies, rehearsal demands, aforementioned clashes of commitments and not least the heat!

Set in Depression-era Times Square, Guys and Dolls is about a couple of big city gamblers and the women who love them. It tells the overlapping stories of high-roller Sky Masterson played by Tommy S, who falls in love with mission worker Sarah Brown shared by Charlotte H and Grace H, and lovable rapscallion Nathan Detroit played by Owen P, engaged for 14 years to Miss Adelaide – Cate V and Gracie B, a headliner at the Hot Box Club. Nathan runs a famous floating crap game, and an ongoing plot line involves his quest for a safe place for the game as Adelaide continues her quest to convince him to marry her. Meanwhile, Sarah, mistakenly believing that Sky set up an illegal game at the mission, tries to fight her affection for the charismatic crapshooter.

The cast performed four shows over two evenings for parents and two matinees for pupils in school; a number of roles were split which gave some of our more experienced students a chance to refine their talents and for younger pupils to gain experience in different demands that roles present. It was lovely to see how uniquely each character was interpreted by each performer and this gave them and the main cast to put their own stamp on the role. Our ‘Guys’ were led confidently by Louis V as Benny, Jaydan T as Nicely Nicely and Evan B as Rusty Charlie. Their opening rendition of Fugue for Tinhorns set the bar high for the rest of the show. These were joined later by stalwart performer Owen P (Nathan Detroit) and Wolfe F (Harry The Horse) in a dazzling dance routine. The rest of the Guys, Tom G, George F, James B, Oliver M, Vihaan J, Ollie P and George H both of whom shared the role of Big Jule, were convincing as the back street gamblers and were crucial on stage in creating a dynamic tension between the guys in their ‘crap games’ and routines. Billy R brought great comic timing as Lt Brannigan while Tommy brought charisma to the role of Sky and had the difficult job of wooing two leading ladies, Charlotte and Grace who performed with star quality and each put their own unique stamp on the character. They were supported so well by the characters of the Mission, Gwen M-O, Elen M-G, Owen H, Paige W, Lily R and Phoebe B who were all confidently led by Joe P as Arvide and Katy S as the respectable General Cartwright. Miss Adelaide, played by both Cate V and Gracie B was captured perfectly in different ways, each paying close attention to detail and emphasising her quirky characteristics with comic nuance and flair. Finally our fabulous girls Martha F, Grace B, Evie H-J, Gracie B, Cate V, Charlotte H and Emma B were instrumental with their performing talent, not least in bringing the glitz and glamour to the show in their accompaniments to Adelaide, Havana club and the famous Bushel and a Peck dance at the Hot Box.

We were also very pleased this year to invite a student band to perform. Led brilliantly by Mr Hill on Piano the band consisted of Drum Kit (Nathan C), Saxophone (Ms L Potter), Strings (Sarah K), Cello (Kit K), Flute (Bethan C), Trumpet (Ollie S). We were impressed by their professionalism and sound which rivalled the pros! The backstage team were instrumental in making the show happen so a huge thank you and well done to Jay D who did the lighting, Old Llandavians Jenna Tallant and Tabby Pennington who made up the backstage team, led by Mrs Davies. A huge thank you also to Mrs Felstead and Mrs Goggs in DT and Mrs Porritt in Art who helped put together the dice and mission signs, both departments supported by our budding set designer Martha F who was super efficient throughout.

Thank you also to Mrs McMahon, Dr Rickard, Miss Leyshon, Miss Golding, Mrs Barry, Miss Williams, the premises team (especially Leon) and The Friends for their support with the show. A huge well done to all involved!

Follow the link to see the gallery from the Senior Summer Show.