1979 School Magazine

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COMBINED PLAY REPORT The advent of third term saw both Girls' and Boys' Gram- mar busy with stage design and rehearsals. This year being "The Year of the Child", it was decided to present "Toad of Toad Hall" as the annual play. The usual pandemonium and chaotic rehearsals after school became first priority for everyone, and assignments and exams were temporarily forgotten! Because of late rehearsals on two occasions, the majority of the cast had the good fortune to taste the gourmet boarding house meals - it was an experience to say the leastl Having survived these illustrious meals, various weird looking animals tramped back for more desperately needed rehearsal. The D-day eventually arrived and apart from extreme cases of stage nerves, the performances were enjoyed by the backstage crew, actors, actresses and audience alike. I feel I can safely say everyone involved in the play had great fun and many good laughs. Thanks must go to all the staff of both schools who put so much time and ef- fort into the production. Special thanks to Ms. Rant, Mr. Cannon and Mr. May for desperately trying to make us look, dance and sing like the animals (?) we portrayed. With the year drawing to a close, we can only wait with eager anticipation for next year's combined play, Keep it up Grammar Schools!!!! Edwina Bassinqthwaighte.

THE COMBINED PLAY "Aha, prompt!" I thought. "What an easy task." But how lwas deceived! Feeling like a canary, lsat perched on my'wooden high chair. Following the lines in the shadows of the stars, my trusty camera and I were prepared for all the 'on stage' and 'back stage' disasters. And there were many! Toad (Jeff Roe), as star, was of course, the one whose mistakes attracted the most in- terest. His tights fell down, his stuffing feil out, he hit the weasels too hard, went on stage half dressed many a time and in the last act, gave the washerwoman a fat lip while gagging her - being viciously bitten for his trou- ble. The stage crew made just as many mistakes. (yes, that thud on Friday night was Badger's house being dropped.) But, not mentioning the fact that they often fell asleep, they did a commendable job without receiving enough credit. All have agreed though that the play was a great success and was made even better by the candid mistakes of both crew and castl Vanessa Coates and Nea-Marie Troy.

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