How Great
Are Noble Things?
Daisy Pulls It Off
Newcastle People’s Theatre
Until 24th January
2015.
The
new year at Newcastle’s Peoples Theatre opens
with a comedy which owes as much to Channel Four’s Comic Strip as it does Enid Blyton’s The Naughtiest Girl in the School.
Daisy
Meredith has been brought up in the 1920s by her opera singing mother after her
Dad died. Whilst she is poor, Daisy is very bright and has done well in
elementary school. By passing exams she wins a place at a girls boarding school.
She meets 6th former Clare Beaumont on the way to the school who is
both Head Girl and a relative of the family who own the building. Clare
suggests Daisy will have a cracking time at her new school but needs to keep
her head down as some girls are not too keen on the idea of a girl from a
different background starting on a scholarship.
Once
in the school Daisy immediately bonds with poetry fan Trixie, with whom she
shares her dormitory, who tells her that there is secret treasure hidden in the
grounds of the old school. They decide to set up a secret society to find the
treasure in order to save the future of the family that owns the school
building. Unfortunately she also shares the dorm with a couple of rich girls
who plan to get Daisy expelled one way or another. The story unfolds in an
establishment in which hockey is as significant as the 3Rs.
The
central characters of Daisy, played by the engaging Maggie Childs and Trixie,
performed superbly by Alison Carr keeps the show flowing well. The script is
full of funny situations without being too syrupy. The rest of the ensemble,
including the delightful Anne Cater as Clare Beaumont, are enchanting as they
show the best, and worst, of traits of teenage girls and eccentric staff.
Kate
Wilkins’ direction ensures that the story continues to flow without pausing for
a change of scenery or props. The clever set design supports the high quality
production.
The
People’s Theatre pull it off with a top-hole production which brings a smile to
the audience. Lashings of ginger beer anyone?
This
review was written by Stephen Oliver for Jowheretogo PR
(www.jowheretogo.com). Follow Jo on twitter @jowheretogo, Stephen
@panic_c_button or like Jowheretogo on Facebook www.facebook.com/Jowheretogo
Photos by Paula Smart https://www.facebook.com/thejazzdevilphoto
Tickets:
Tuesday 20 – Saturday 24 January 2015
7.30pm
The People’s Theatre, Stephenson Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 5QF
£13.50 (Concessions £11)
Box Office: 0191 265 5020 (option 2) www.peoplestheatre.co.uk
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