Guys and Dolls is a love story between unlikely couples, yet as expected, it has been nothing short of a triumph on the Leighton Park stage. From Tuesday 15th to Thursday 17th February 2022, the cast and crew have transported audiences to the underground world of 1920’s New York through the medium of song, dance and drama. With a set design inspired by the paintings of Edward Hopper, arresting costumes, and a live band performing inspired gospel and Latin rhythms, spectators likened the production to that of a West End hit! Not wanting to literally blow Friday’s audience away, with the arrival of Storm Eunice the decision was made to reschedule the show’s finale to Sunday 6th March.
Reflecting on the production, Director, Peter Scoggins, said “A wonderful feature of this production is the ensemble nature of the company of young actors and dancers. We always seek to achieve this as we are conscious that the ensemble creates the basis for the show’s success. In the last two weeks each actor, in either a principle or chorus role, has managed to create a confidence in us, the audience, so that we know we are going to have a good time and that is not always easy to achieve in a school production. Only after this has happened can we sit back and enjoy.”
“Whenever I watch a show I don’t start to relax until the third performance at least. The actual week of performances is a crucial learning period for young actors as they begin to fully appreciate the experience of communicating each show’s characteristics to a live audience. So, I write a lot of notes to give the cast the next day. There is a pure joy in seeing what each performer adds to, or interprets from, the direction they have been given. Sometimes this only comes about in performance.”
Midweek, Old Leightonian, Peter Mahmoudi-Hartley, was delighted to meet his contemporary counterpart, Taran in the Upper Sixth, otherwise known as Nicely Nicely Johnson. Speaking to one another, Peter reminisced on his time performing in the Main Hall almost 20 years ago, “…the memories, songs and sheer sense of fun came flooding back to me” he enthused. “Superb acting from all the cast, outstanding solo and ensemble performances, slick choreography, incredible live music, effective lighting and sound effects, smooth scene changes, the list goes on!”
“It’s clear to me that dramatic and musical talent is soaring high at LP, a testament in part the excellent tuition and guidance from Peter Scoggins, Beth Butler and Rosemary Scales, but also to the effort and commitment by you all to stage such a skilful show. I see exciting futures and an abundance of potential in performances that wouldn’t be out of place in a current West End show.”
Also, amongst the audience on Wednesday was fellow Old Leightonian, stage and screen actor, Nathaniel Parker, who thanked the cast and crew for “a splendid evening.” He commented, “I don’t know how long rehearsals were, but some of those bigger dancing scenes took an awful lot of effort and concentration and timing, and enthusiasm. It is always true that the background are as important as the leads, in that if they look like they can’t be bothered or aren’t ‘there, in the moment’ then why should we believe the rest? …I wish I could come again, but you’ll rock it.”
Productions on the Park always highlight an impressive level of commitment, enthusiasm and skill from their casts and crews. However, this year, the challenge of navigating Covid related isolation and illness, on top of the typically busy school day, made rehearsals no easy feat. “It felt amazing to be on the stage with everyone after nearly six months of rehearsals. Having it all come together just felt so great!” remarked Sam who takes on the role of Benny Southstreet.
Choreographer, Beth Butler, added “I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the cast. It has been wonderful to work with students with a variety of dance backgrounds. It has truly been a collaboration where we have experimented with movement material and worked out together solutions to choreographic issues along the way. Coming together regularly since September to build these dance numbers has been a highlight of my working week. Transposing the movement from dance studio to stage is always risky. It is really rewarding when you see spatial formations and varying dance relationships work. When dancers are backstage saying ‘I love this dance’ and ‘I want to dance it again’ I know I have done my job properly.”
As Damiana, an enthusiastic audience member put it, “Who needs to go to the West End when we have Leighton Park on our doorstep? Absolutely amazing performance, choreography, music, lighting, props… Such a talent! You should all be very proud.”
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