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Following the English Department's involvement with the local drama group during the Dunblane Fling in May 2002, we were asked to contribute to the St Blane's Drama Group "Three One Act Plays" in November 2002. At the same time we entered the annual Sri Sathya Sai School Drama Competition on Human Values, using the same play for both events.
Our play was Hope, which tried to show how in the space of a Sunday evening in a hospital casualty ward, a person can lose hope - but have it given back from one of the unlikeliest of sources. We showed how a set of chance encounters, and odd coincidence, can change the lives of a few, forever - while others, as must always happen, remain unchanged. The cast were very good: Carley Spence, Gavin Reith, Laurie Cairns, Robert Carmichael, Scott Graham, Ciara Watson, Aaron King, Mark Braceland, Vanessa Sherriffs and David McDougall were the actors. Fay Mclntyre and Carrie-Ann Campbell did lighting and sound. Natasha Bruce and Luke Day filled gaps. Natasha, in particular, shone for her willingness to stand in for Carley in one of the major roles.
The competition Regional Final was in Airdrie's Town Hall, a very impressive venue for us. It's safe to say we were all a bit apprehensive because prior to this things just hadn't gone right. But when that evocative soundtrack started up and Laurie Cairns ventured out on to the steeply sloping stage, everything came together at last. Robert Carmichael won the Best Actor prize; Carley won Best Actress and we won the Best Play award, which meant we had a place in the final in Dundee. Next followed the Dunblane performances over four nights at the end of November, which were very well received and gave the cast invaluable extra performances.
The final at Bonar Hall in Dundee was on Sunday 1 December. The quality of the other plays was, for the most part, very good, and the whole day was, once again, a very worthwhile experience (though, at times, nail-biting). Our group was singled out as being a very polished team indeed. "Not one of them looked as if they didn't belong on the stage," the judge remarked at the end. We came second in a very close contest. There's no doubt in my mind this is a terrific competition and every year the quality gets better. I hope I can have some of the same group for the next competition. I would like to express my thanks, in particular, to
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Laurie Cairns (S6) who has been with the drama group since her Sl days (remember Frederica the Maid?) and starred in Laurie's Diary in the last national competition (2002). It was, I felt, only fitting that she should collect the Best Script Award on Sunday 1 December for her last appearance in a "QVS Production". I'd like to wish her, and the other leavers who took part, the very best for the years ahead. I'd also like to express my appreciation to all the parents who gave up their time to see their offspring "treading the boards". They must have been justifiably proud.
No sooner had we mopped our brows after that experience when my S3 pupils set about putting on last year's (postponed) production of Macbeth, or, The Traitor's Camp, in which we did to Shakespeare what Rowan Atkinson did to English history. This was a most enjoyable production and everybody worked together very well and the audiences enjoyed themselves too. Unlike many productions which can be fraught with difficulties this one was mostly fun from beginning to end. And it's great to see people who are maybe shy or lacking in confidence, or who never thought they could do such things, overcoming their fears and strutting about on stage wearing absurd clothes, provoking mirth in the audience, and having a really good time! Jenny Carter as Macbeth and David Leishman as the evil wife, particularly stick in my mind, but Ryan Flaherty cavorting around as Duncan to the sound of Kylie Minogue, and Cati Monti rising from the fires of hell (the black cooker) and saying "Oooh, hello!" raised a fair share of laughs. James Wootton also milked the food jokes as far as he could, and Carrie-Ann Campbell's sense of shocked outrage as she took a custard pie in the face was a picture to behold.
The highlight of the Department's Social Calendar was, indubitably, the wedding of our dear Miss Johnstone to Sean Adams. The event was marvellous, starting in the Chapel and followed by a merry carouse in the Bo'ness Town Hall. I'm sure we all wish them both every happiness and success for the future. Coping with children should not pose any problems for the duo - how many married couples begin their lives together with eighty children right on their doorstep? Talk about baptism of fire! (Hmmm - sounds like a good idea for a play...)
A Kirk (PT English)
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