Torrington Players Go Back to School
This gentle comedy has been a huge success in the West End (unfortunately none of The Players were available to be in the cast then). Those of you who enjoyed reading the Angela Brazil school girl novels or even Enid Blyton’s Mallory Towers series, will be familiar with what happens when the school mistresses are not present: japes, pillow fights, fun in the dorm and teasing of the outsider. Daisy, our plucky heroine, wins a scholarship to Grangewood and meets with tribulations and prejudice before finally triumphing, finding the long lost treasure and her father!
The play is directed by Sara Pruce and cast members include longstanding members of The Players as well as many new, young ‘gels’. It will be an evening of fun, some music and even a hockey match and a cliff rescue.
Feel free to come dressed in your old school uniform
NODA Review
Daisy Pulls It Off Torrington Players
The Plough Arts Director Sara Pruce
November 24th 2016
Last year I was impressed with Torrington Players when they performed “A Winter’s Tale” and they have been impressive again this year. Torrington Players are very versatile in the choice of plays they choose to perform, allowing their company to run the full gamut of acting experience.
You were immediately in the atmosphere of the school on arrival, where teachers were ordering their pupils not to talk in the common room! Shown to your seats by the pupils, all ‘jolly hockey sticks,’ recreating the era in which the play is set and calling to mind the many ‘boarding school novels’ that abounded in the early part of last century.
Daisy Pulls It Off was performed with great skill. The set with its stair case, complete with platform, looked every inch the grand hall of a girl’s public school but versatile enough to double as every other scene during the play.
Daisy, played by Beth Williams, gave this part her all, with the light and shade necessary for the role, complete with a wonderful 20’s accent and a radiant smile. Megan Turner was impressive as Trixie, the ‘oh so loyal friend,’ complete with the vocabulary and bouncing optimism.
Rachel Kotchombas as Sybil played the snobby upper class bully with relish, supported by her side kick, Monica (Keziah Spittles), who acted the role with subtlety and a certain slyness, easily influenced by Sybil.
Clare, the head girl, played by Isabella Cousins needed to slow her dialogue a little, but none the less did very well and acted the part of the kind senior girl very sympathetically. Madi Bissell as Alice gave a good performance and I was particularly impressed by the way the winning hockey match was performed.
The Teachers: Miss Granville (Jean Evans-Loude) was simply a natural in this role and at times would have even frightened me into keeping silent! Super stuff. The head, Miss Gibson (Barbara Cumberlidge) got it just right “strict but kind - the sort that would command respect from her pupils.
Peter Villiers (Mr Scowblowski) got the character spot on, accent and all, grand performance! Along with Mr Thompson (Steve Puttick) the whistling enigma who turned out to be, not only Daisy’s long lost father but also heir to the estate and its timely re-discovered lost treasure.
Great performances by the other school girs who never let their characterisations drop for a moment. Costumes were very authentic and added greatly to the whole atmosphere.
Everyone involved in this production should be heartily congratulated, especially the Director, Sara Pruce on a first-class production. You all certainly did ‘pull it off.’
Thanks Torrington Players, a joy to watch.
Graham Liverton NODA Rep
