Junior Play Review - 'Cuba' & 'Sparkleshank'
Junior pupils proved last week that they can produce high quality drama, despite a punishingly short rehearsal schedule.
At first sight, the pairing of a serious drama exploring tensions in an all girls grammar school in the early sixties with the more familiar stereotypical social dynamics of modern teenage school children, seemed an odd one. However, Caroline Barrett's inspired production of the two plays captured our imaginations from the word 'go'.
Cuba
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'Cuba' explores the effects of the mounting political tensions surrounding the Cuban missile crisis in 1962. As the dramatic effects of international politics were described to us, the internal politics of the girls' school unfolded with teachers and headmaster clashing, girls left confused and increasingly rebellious. Living in our complacent times, it was initially hard to believe in the intensity of the anxiety which seemed to be mounting. However we gradually became convinced of the real sense of fear which was beginning to grip the nation. Becky Bertin, as the narrator, kept us in the palm of her hand as she drew us firstly into the lives of the two main characters, who were fighting to have their views heard, and then the rest of the community. Her timing was superb. Lydia Fowler led a strong group of schoolgirls, each of whom managed to create a strong sense of character in the classroom scenes. The staging was impressive, combining sophisticated back projection of archive film footage with the simplicity of the school room setting.
'Sparkleshank'
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Watching the video introduction to 'Sparkleshark' we felt much more familiar with the vision presented of a young pupil (sensitively played by Simon Hanley) fleeing his bullying persecutor to a safe haven on the roof of his school, where he could immerse himself in a fantasy story world. As intruders from the world he had fled clambered up to join him on the roof we could enjoy the lively performances of Rosie Rydon, Olivia Britz and Lucy Ogilvie, the first three to impose their presence on his quiet world. The tension mounted as male egos, determined to maintain their physical domination of our anti-hero, entered the arena, led by Ben Upton, excellent in the role of ‘chief bully'. It was with disbelief that we were offered the scenario of story-telling as the antidote to the aggression. Gently, carefully, sometimes haltingly, the cast took up and invented a story of a lonely princess with her wicked father, an at first reluctant prince and his eventual quest to win her. As the story unfolded, the antagonists began to bond and a team was formed to slay the fierce dragon who, in the end, they spared. Enthusiastic dancing formed a delightful finale to this play which left us wondering which of the two worlds depicted was really the fantasy.
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Mrs E Byde
Senior Mistress
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