Stagecraft Prize 2009

Congratulations to Emily Plunket, winner of the 2009 Fry Prize for Stagecraft, awarded for her work on our November production of My Fair Lady (artwork, scenery, chorus).

Drama Prizes 2009

Congratulations to the winners of this year's Drama Prizes:

Oliver Smith wins the Senior prize for his work as Professor Henry Higgins in our November production of the musical My Fair Lady.

Emma Moore wins the Junior prize for her work as Juliet in the February production of Romeo and Juliet, and also for her work in My Fair Lady.

My Fair Lady photos

Here's our photo album of the recent highly successful production of My Fair Lady. The majority of the photographs were taken at the Friday night performance by our Head of Photography, Mr Peter Watts, and his pupil Amelia Shirley. Additional rehearsal photos have been added. Click below on the arrow for slideshow, or if you can't access it, try here. Click on the photo to bring up the album, and then on 'Slideshow' for a larger view. See yesterday's post for a collage, and an Animoto video using some of these pictures. Cast can download photos from here by clicking on 'Download'.

My Fair Lady review

Here is V former Kate Haslett's review of last weekend's Senior Play, My Fair Lady:-

"On Friday 14th November at 7pm,the school gathered in the Big Schoolroom to watch the eagerly anticipated adaptation of the Nobel Prize winner George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion, My Fair Lady…

The play opens on a rainy night in Edwardian London as the opera patrons are waiting under the arches of Covent Garden for cabs. A cheerful mood engulfs us, until a chance meeting between the eponymous 'fair lady' (Poppy Vernon) and the aristocratic Freddie (Shane Lavin) leads to Colonel Hugh Pickering’s (Michael McBurney) challenge. Linguistic expert Professor Henry Higgins (Oli Smith) has six months to turn this 'creature' into a sophisticated lady.

The staging was excellently done, and succeeded in adding a certain atmosphere to the play. There was one backdrop for the entire play, which managed to fit universally into every scene. The frequent scene changes, executed by Josh Buckingham and Ian Fraser, were witty and kept a lightness to the play.

The acting in this play can not be faulted either. Each actor carried out his or her role exceptionally with pitch-perfect vocals. However, three stars seemed to stand out in my mind, and to everyone I spoke to as well. Poppy Vernon's unique portrayal Eliza Doolittle, Oli Smith's excellent performance as Professor Henry Higgins and Michael McBurney's take on Colonel Hugh Pickering were the talk of the evening. There were also many other actors who stood out, such as Fred Mann's illustration of Alfie Doolittle, Shane Lavin as the love-struck Freddie, Anna Traill as the empathetic Mrs. Higgins and Gina Mirow as Mrs Pearse.

The play was exceptionally directed by Jeremy Stone and Julian Girdham, who managed to combine strict direction with the talent of each of the actors, and the music was directed by Geraldine Malone-Brady

This was a very demanding portrayal of the adaptation of George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion. However it was enjoyed by all, and I would just like to say congratulations to everyone who took part. "

My Fair Lady Animoto

Above, a collage of some of the photographs we're assembling from last weekend's production of My Fair Lady - the full album will be here shortly. Click on the image for a closer view. And below, an Animoto video using some of the photos. Click on the arrow on the poster to start the video; the music is Zemer Attic/Tanz Tanz Yiddlelac by 3 Leg Torso (honestly).

My Fair Lady reaction

Our first response to the weekend production of My Fair Lady comes from our former Head of English, John Fanagan, who retired in the summer, and who writes :-

It was good to be back in the Big Schoolroom on Friday evening last for the first night of My Fair Lady, this year's senior play/musical, produced by Jeremy Stone, Julian Girdham and Geraldine Malone-Brady. It is a very demanding piece, with some very large individual roles, ensemble singing and frequent scene changes (the latter masterfully executed by Josh Buckingham and Ian Fraser who added their own quirky touches).

The two main roles (pictured) were perfectly cast. Poppy Vernon as Eliza sang and acted with exceptional confidence. Her scene at Ascot where she mingles with English high society was particularly effective. Oli Smith made the misogynist Professor Higgins unusually likeable. Michael McBurney as Pickering was very assured as Higgins's bemused sidekick.

The production looked terrific: the huge number of costumes (well done Helen Roden and Karen Hennessey) and the clever set. Both Oli and Fred Mann (as Alfie Doolittle)made good use of my grandfather's top hat. It was great to see so many pupils from Sixth Form down to Primary taking part, especially in the choruses; Geraldine Malone-Brady had worked her usual magic.

The smaller roles were also strong. I particularly enjoyed Shane Lavin's lovestruck Freddy, Gina Mirow as Mrs Pearce and Anna Traill as Mrs Higgins.

It was hugely enjoyed by pupils and adults alike in the audience. I know just how much work goes in to bringing it all together. Congratulations to everyone.

Many thanks to John for his kind comments. Later this week we'll have a full pupil review

My Fair Lady last night

Tonight is the final performance of our musical, My Fair Lady. Next week we'll have a review by a V form pupil, and lots of photographs. The programme can be seen here.

(poster created thanks to Wordle).

My Fair Lady performances

Our Senior Play production of Lerner and Loewe's My Fair Lady previews tonight to a smallish audience, with the main performances on Friday (7pm) and Saturday (8pm) in the Big Schoolroom. Next week we'll have a pupil review here.

The programme, with cast list, can be seen here.

My Fair Lady

Below, the poster for our production of My Fair Lady (dress rehearsal this time next week), courtesy of Wordle. Click on it for a closer look.

My Fair Lady

Casting has just been completed for our November production of My Fair Lady, and chorus practices start this evening in the Cadogan. The cast is :

Eliza Doolittle : Poppy Vernon
Henry Higgins : Ollie Smith
Colonel Pickering : Michael McBurney
Mrs. Pearce : Gina Mirow
Alfred Doolittle : Fred Mann
Mrs. Higgins : Anna Traill
Freddie Eynsford Hill : Shane Lavin
Mrs. Eynsford Hill : Olivia Plunket
Lady Boxington : Celeste Guinness
Jamie : Robbie Hollis
Queen of Transylvania : Daphne Wright
Zoltan Karpathy : Sebastian Stephenson
Maids/Racegoers : Lauren Meyler, Jane Quigley, Rosemary Wentges, Sope Anthony-Ojolola, Emma Moore, Hannah Wentges.