|
Park Theatre
|
|
Anna Shaffer plays the heroine, Daisy, the first student to have gained a place at Grangewood through intellect and not wealth. At school she combats the nasty behaviour of snobbish bullies Sybil and Monica (played by Shobna Gulati and Clare Perkins respectively) through her true British good-will and kindness, with the help of her lively friend Trixie (Pauline McLynn). When they discover that there is a treasure hidden somewhere in the school they are determined to do whatever it takes, even miss watching the first hockey game of the year, to find it. It is a charming tale and so typically British with all of the "Oh I say"'s and the "Jubilate"'s!
|
|
Director Paulette Randall makes the most out of every small scene and they are all incredibly funny, especially the scene at the end where good-old Daisy rescues the bullies from a cliff-face made of upturned classroom chairs. Despite it being so funny, with really not very much actually happening the play is just that little bit too long at 2hr30.
|
The acting was absolutely capital! The majority of the cast were multi-rolling, and they breathed so much life into each character. It was impossible not to get swept up into their jolly world of hockey games and hidden family fortunes. The idea of it being the Grangewood girls performing the play allowed for funny little mishaps to take place throughout it, such as having the wrong dress on or standing on the wrong part of the stage. It also lead to some hilarious over-the-top characterizations, such as Shobna Gulati's rib-tickling 'Mother'. |
Daisy Pulls It Off is a fun play that exists in it's own little world, away from all the political-dramas that 2017 has offered us. It's a jolly-good laugh for all the family, and a great way to end the year!
