Perth College Gala Performance
Fri, 19 Apr 2013, 12:41 pmGordon the Optom1 post in thread
Perth College Gala Performance
Fri, 19 Apr 2013, 12:41 pm‘The Perth College Old Girls’ Centenary Gala Production’ is being presented by The Perth College Old Girls’ Association in their extremely comfortable and well-equipped, 700-seat Judith Cottier Theatre, situated in Perth College, 31 Lawley Crescent, Mt. Lawley. The fast-paced, two and a half hour performances are nightly until Saturday 20th April at 7.30 pm, with two matinees at 2.00 pm, one on Saturday and another on Sunday 21st April.
The school has produced an amazing collection of skills and professions, a famous female aviator, Olympian gold medallists, and its fair share of entertainment talent. Some of these performers returned tonight and were outstanding.
The 15,000 Perth College old girls were sent a questionnaire, with these results and details selected from a hundred years of records by archivist Shirley Withers, Anne Hairsine and Gabrielle Metcalf have created and directed this outstanding variety show.
The lights dim and present-day students file onto the stage. Alexandra steps forward and recites a poem that she has written in today’s terminology, describing the true friendship encountered at the school. The 200-strong choir, standing on tiered rostra, then gave a rousing and animated chorus, lifting the audience to a level of excitement that was to stay for the whole show.
Two muses, ‘The Spirits of the School’ appeared and led us through an amazing hundred years of WA’s history, generously mingled with times gone by at Perth College. Starring PC girls aged from 8 to 80, this massive production unfolds the history of the Association.
In 1913, the Anglican Sisters had decided that the school, in addition to the normal lessons of cooking and good housekeeping, should be allowed to teach their young ladies English, geography, maths and other academia.
It is the summer of 1913 and the actors, dressed in their daring bathing costumes, give a rendition of ‘I do like to be beside the seaside’. A large screen at the rear of the stage glowed as Gabrielle Metcalf’s beautifully presented AV of photo memories from the early school came to life. The top-hatted Prime Minister, Andrew Fisher (Peter Kennedy) appears at the side of the stage and announces that Australia is now at war with Germany, and that all able men should bravely fight.
Scenes of pride and excitement followed, as, to the catchy rhythm of ‘It’s a long way to Tipperary’, the PC girls’ husbands and loved ones left Albany on their tragic journey to the Front in Europe. Three freezing German soldiers (Nigel Fraser, with Chris and Jonathon Skotny) poignantly sang ‘Stille Nacht’, followed by a delightful rendition of ‘Lili Marlene’ from Georgia Caceres.
The auditorium filled with the noise of bombs; explosions in quadraphonic, surround sound filled the house with the realism of war (soundscape Ryan Sedgwick). The darting spotlights (clever lighting design by Matthew Brown) flashed in perfect sync with the sounds of the ensuing battle, giving an insight of the horrors of that terrible war. Then there was the deafening silence that follows a war, broken by a lone heartrending bugle call - the Last Post (Richard Cameron?).
The War is over and the Happy Vegemites, led by Jasmin Dyer, bring joy back to the audience. However, the paper tissues returned with a heartfelt rendition of ‘When Irish eyes are smiling’ touchingly sung by Sarah Ozanne. The biggest laugh of the night was Ethan Acott’s romantic advances to Stella Fowler, as he performed John Williamson’s ‘Boogie with m’Baby’.
Finally, the School Song filled the hall as the cast of eighty on stage, joined the 200 scholars standing in the aisles at the side of the auditorium.
With a main chorus of 40, all performing several numbers, the costume co-ordination for poor Lyn Pierce was a massive task. However, every single outfit was perfect for the era and immaculately presented. There were numerous soldiers uniforms (military help from Justin Gill), debutante dresses from the thirties, nuns’ habits, bridal gowns, and the outrageous colours of the swinging sixties – the demands were never ending. Liddy Reynolds led the hardworking wig and makeup team.
The musical ensemble showed immense versatility with slow sad passages, followed rapidly by bouncy wild dance routines. The orchestra gave us a guitar solo from Andrew Winton, the fun of the fiddle (Charlie McCarthy), keyboard by Helen Edmunds, Jackie Carroll and Jeremy Sivewright. Stephen Kelly provided the bass, Brent Grapes and Breanna Evangelista the brass and Taryn Lush percussion.
Jeremy Sivewright assisted the two directors, 1956 Leaver and former Head of Drama, Anne Hairsine and former teacher, Gabriella Metcalf, in producing the flawless singing and dancing routines. As you can imagine, the range of dance styles over a century is vast, so the choreographer (Sonia Cleary) had a colossal challenge training the Old Girls and their usurped partners in the joys of jiving and Charleston. The wonderful chosen music (Jackie Carroll) evoked many memories, smiles and no doubt, a few tears.
The props required were probably difficult to source, but Karen Bernic shone through. The stage management (Teah Heenan and Rebecca Thorman) was precise, quick and perfectly planned.
This show is an absolute must. Even though it is a community theatre production, it was one of the most professional and slick musicals that I have seen for some time. This brilliant production proves what a team, who have true enthusiasm, who are willing to put in a huge amount of effort and can think outside the box can do.
All adults will love this show for sentimental reasons and the younger audience for the clear depiction of what their grandparents had to go through. Truly professional – sensational.
‘The Perth College Old Girls’ Centenary Gala Production’ is being presented by The Perth College Old Girls’ Association in their extremely comfortable and well-equipped, 700-seat Judith Cottier Theatre, situated in Perth College, 31 Lawley Crescent, Mt. Lawley. The fast-paced, two and a half hour performances are nightly until Saturday 20th April at 7.30 pm, with two matinees at 2.00 pm, one on Saturday and another on Sunday 21st April.
The school has produced an amazing collection of skills and professions, a famous female aviator, Olympian gold medallists, and its fair share of entertainment talent. Some of these performers returned tonight and were outstanding.
The 15,000 Perth College old girls were sent a questionnaire, with these results and details selected from a hundred years of records by archivist Shirley Withers, Anne Hairsine and Gabrielle Metcalf have created and directed this outstanding variety show.
The lights dim and present-day students file onto the stage. Alexandra steps forward and recites a poem that she has written in today’s terminology, describing the true friendship encountered at the school. The 200-strong choir, standing on tiered rostra, then gave a rousing and animated chorus, lifting the audience to a level of excitement that was to stay for the whole show.
Two muses, ‘The Spirits of the School’ appeared and led us through an amazing hundred years of WA’s history, generously mingled with times gone by at Perth College. Starring PC girls aged from 8 to 80, this massive production unfolds the history of the Association.
In 1913, the Anglican Sisters had decided that the school, in addition to the normal lessons of cooking and good housekeeping, should be allowed to teach their young ladies English, geography, maths and other academia.
It is the summer of 1913 and the actors, dressed in their daring bathing costumes, give a rendition of ‘I do like to be beside the seaside’. A large screen at the rear of the stage glowed as Gabrielle Metcalf’s beautifully presented AV of photo memories from the early school came to life. The top-hatted Prime Minister, Andrew Fisher (Peter Kennedy) appears at the side of the stage and announces that Australia is now at war with Germany, and that all able men should bravely fight.
Scenes of pride and excitement followed, as, to the catchy rhythm of ‘It’s a long way to Tipperary’, the PC girls’ husbands and loved ones left Albany on their tragic journey to the Front in Europe. Three freezing German soldiers (Nigel Fraser, with Chris and Jonathon Skotny) poignantly sang ‘Stille Nacht’, followed by a delightful rendition of ‘Lili Marlene’ from Georgia Caceres.
The auditorium filled with the noise of bombs; explosions in quadraphonic, surround sound filled the house with the realism of war (soundscape Ryan Sedgwick). The darting spotlights (clever lighting design by Matthew Brown) flashed in perfect sync with the sounds of the ensuing battle, giving an insight of the horrors of that terrible war. Then there was the deafening silence that follows a war, broken by a lone heartrending bugle call - the Last Post (Richard Cameron?).
The War is over and the Happy Vegemites, led by Jasmin Dyer, bring joy back to the audience. However, the paper tissues returned with a heartfelt rendition of ‘When Irish eyes are smiling’ touchingly sung by Sarah Ozanne. The biggest laugh of the night was Ethan Acott’s romantic advances to Stella Fowler, as he performed John Williamson’s ‘Boogie with m’Baby’.
Finally, the School Song filled the hall as the cast of eighty on stage, joined the 200 scholars standing in the aisles at the side of the auditorium.
With a main chorus of 40, all performing several numbers, the costume co-ordination for poor Lyn Pierce was a massive task. However, every single outfit was perfect for the era and immaculately presented. There were numerous soldiers uniforms (military help from Justin Gill), debutante dresses from the thirties, nuns’ habits, bridal gowns, and the outrageous colours of the swinging sixties – the demands were never ending. Liddy Reynolds led the hardworking wig and makeup team.
The musical ensemble showed immense versatility with slow sad passages, followed rapidly by bouncy wild dance routines. The orchestra gave us a guitar solo from Andrew Winton, the fun of the fiddle (Charlie McCarthy), keyboard by Helen Edmunds, Jackie Carroll and Jeremy Sivewright. Stephen Kelly provided the bass, Brent Grapes and Breanna Evangelista the brass and Taryn Lush percussion.
Jeremy Sivewright assisted the two directors, 1956 Leaver and former Head of Drama, Anne Hairsine and former teacher, Gabriella Metcalf, in producing the flawless singing and dancing routines. As you can imagine, the range of dance styles over a century is vast, so the choreographer (Sonia Cleary) had a colossal challenge training the Old Girls and their usurped partners in the joys of jiving and Charleston. The wonderful chosen music (Jackie Carroll) evoked many memories, smiles and no doubt, a few tears.
The props required were probably difficult to source, but Karen Bernic shone through. The stage management (Teah Heenan and Rebecca Thorman) was precise, quick and perfectly planned.
This show is an absolute must. Even though it is a community theatre production, it was one of the most professional and slick musicals that I have seen for some time. This brilliant production proves what a team, who have true enthusiasm, who are willing to put in a huge amount of effort and can think outside the box can do.
All adults will love this show for sentimental reasons and the younger audience for the clear depiction of what their grandparents had to go through. Truly professional – sensational.