Community & Business
3 June, 2024
Grease takes centre stage
Pittsworth State High School delighted audiences recently, with a number of electrifying performances of the hit musical, Grease.
“The students have absolutely done a brilliant job,” Producer, Clare Lawrence said - and she was right!
Several talented students performed a range of solos from the original film, including Ava Farrington as Marty, singing Freddy My Love at the Pink Ladies slumber party, and Liam Cousen as Kenickie, rolling in on his rust bucket automobile and performing the famous Greased Lightnin’.
Abbie Summers’ melodious rendition of Hopelessly Devoted To You on Saturday night was flawless, and the Teen Angels’ harmonies in Beauty School Dropout were a feast for the ears.
The bond between the T-Birds gang of Danny, Doody, Roger, Kenickie
and Sonny, was so genuine it’s hard to imagine they aren’t a real life teenage boy band.
Each of them encompassed the swagger of Grease’s T-Birds down to a tee, which paired impeccably with their black leather jackets, aviator sunglasses, and devil-may-care attitudes.
Danny played by Ethan King, was re-imagined with a mullet hairstyle of long golden locks as opposed to the sleek, dark haired teenager that film fans are familiar with.
A special mention must go out to the Born To Hand Jive dance routine, choreographed by Chenyl Southey and performed by Danny and Cha Cha, who executed every spin, lift,
and turn, with precision and care.
Danny and Sandy’s drive-in movie scene included a short film on the projector backdrop that reduced the audience to tears - from laughter, that is.
The drive-in movie is ordinarily supplied only as an audio track, while Danny and Sandy ‘watch’ the movie in darkness.
However, Ms Lawrence, along with alumni Russell Cooper, and Grade 11 Media students Erika Ferdinand and Sally Gordon, decided to put their creativity to the test, and prepared a short film to accompany the supplied audio.
Their brief was to keep it 1970s camp, with choppy edits, and slapstick comedy.
Needless to say, the group produced exactly that.
Another aspect of the production that cannot go unmentioned, is the set and costume designs, which were most effective and tastefully complemented each character’s performance.
Ms Lawrence spoke on Saturday night, to thank sponsors, and the talents of the student body who contributed to the production.
“It is with immense joy and absolute gratitude, that I stand before you, to celebrate, not just the remarkable talents of our students, but also the incredible support that has made this production possible,” she said.
“On behalf of our school community, I extend our heartfelt thanks to each of you - your support for the arts sends a very powerful message about the value of creativity, and the joy of performing.
“To our cast and crew, I am truly in awe of you - each and every one of you.
“Your collaboration, creativity and perseverance is absolutely inspiring, and it has been an honour to watch each one of you gain confidence and a well deserved sense of achievement that will stay with you long after the applause,” she said.
“I want to thank you for pushing yourselves to do the scary things, for trusting us, that even though you didn’t think so, we knew you could do it,” Ms Lawrence said.
“And most importantly, thank you for the laughs.”
Ms Lawrence explained that the dedication of the students to learn lines, dances, songs, staging, regularly attend rehearsals and fittings, and then perform several shows in front of their peers, was a huge ask.
“Our amazing students did so with professionalism and enthusiasm,” she said.
A number of people were recognised for their contributions to the production, as directors, stage managers, lighting and sound coordinators, and costume and set designers.
School Captain Kiera Macdonald thanked Miss Waters for helping with hair and makeup, and also their script prompt, Miss Morrison.
Kiera then presented Ms Lawrence, whom she named as their ‘school mum’, with flowers and a gift for the endless hours of effort she put into the production.
“She has just worked so hard, never has missed anything, nothing has been forgotten, and it’s all because of her,” Kiera said.
It seems everyone is genuinely saddened by the production’s end, but none more so than Ms Lawrence.
Despite this, she is proud to have contributed to the students’ newfound passion for performing, with some already discussing future performance opportunities, including signing up to Chenyl’s Academy of Dance.
The school welcomed 874 guests to its new hall to enjoy the performances.
The cast and crew have no doubt left their audience ‘totally devoted’, with Ms Lawrence hoping to see everyone return for the next production, some time in the future.
