SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES: Preston School is a sure bet success with Guys and Dolls

TALENTED students at Preston School in Yeovil did the school proud this week with their production of the ever-popular musical Guys and Dolls.

The musical was performed on Wednesday and Thursday (February 11-12, 2015) nights to packed audiences and everyone went away with big smiles on their faces having enjoyed what they had just witnessed.

The story is based in New York and an underground gambling circle which results in Sky Masterson being bet $1,000 by Nathan Detroit that he would not be able to take Salvation Army leader Sarah Brown on a date.

Meanwhile, Nathan Detroit is being harassed by Lt Brannigan, of the New York Police, while his long-standing girlfriend Miss Adelaide is desperate to get married.

There were some great performances from RJ Fajutrao (Sky Masterson) and Olivia Deverill (Sarah Brown), while Harrison Atyeo (Nathan Detroit) and Miss Adelaide (Julia Lowicka) portrayed a perfect couple!

PHOTO - TOP: Harrison Atyeo as Nathan Detroit and Julia Lowicka as Miss Adelaide.

PHOTO - RIGHT: Some of the Hot Box Girls.

Full marks go to Julia Lowicka who suffered an ankle injury in the weeks leading up to the production and Sophie Tyrrell was on hand to act as understudy in the event of Julia being unavailable.

There were also good performances from Nathan Detroit’s sidekicks Ryan Farrand (as Benny Southstreet) and Anoop Reji (as Nicely), while Natalie Sproston was great in her role alongside Olivia in the Salvation Army as Arvida Abernathy.

Comedy was in abundance during the show – especially with twins Malachy East and Tyler East as Big Jule and Lt Brannigan respectively as they made a double-take look at one another and seemingly surprised at their likeness!

There was also a nice touch in the first-half of the show when Harrison Atyeo’s (Nathan Detroit) microphone pack had fallen and was dangling around by his feet. He carried on unaware for sometime until his co-stars pointed it out with a bit of ad-libbing – to which Harrison replied “Do you think anyone noticed?” Fair play Harrison and a great on-the-spot answer!

All great musical productions need an exuberant and enthusiastic chorus line and that was certainly the case with Guys and Dolls at Preston School where everyone played their part in making sure the show was a success.

PHOTO - RIGHT: Ryan Farrand (as Benny Southstreet) and Anoop Reji (as Nicely Nicely Johnson).

Although the students have to take huge credit for the show, the brains behind the production was drama teacher Kayleigh Plomer.

Following on from her debut show of Honk! last year, the first time in many years that Preston had put on a production, she has now come up trumps again with Guys and Dolls.

We can now only look forward to next year’s show.

PHOTO - RIGHT: RJ Fajutrao (as Sky Masterson).

Cast: Nathan Detroit – Harrison Atyeo; Sky Masterson – RJ Fajutrao; Sarah Brown – Olivia Deverill; Miss Adelaide – Julia Lowicka; Miss Adelaide Understudy – Sophie Tyrrell; Arivda Abernathy – Natalie Sproston; Nicely – Anoop Reji; Benny Southstreet – Ryan Farrand; Harry the Horse – Georgia Dunn; Big Jule – Malachy East; Lt Brannigan – Tyler East; General Cartwright – Lauren Eastwood; Angie the Ox – Khloe Farrant; Liver Lips Louie – Ella Bowles; Master of Ceremonies – Amanda Johnson; Mimi – Holly Mainstone; Agatha – Pippa Strickland; Calvin – Rory Burrows; Martha – Jess McAleese; Bertha - Lucy Purnell; Street Vendor – Megan Passmore.

Guys – Ben Samways, Amara Baker, Isabel Goodwin, Jack Slicker. Gamblers – Harry Taylor, Anastacia Hayward, Zak Courtenay, Olivia Platt, Alannya Blackmore. Hot Box Girls – Kayleigh Constanza, Lauren Jay, Amy Constanza, Libby Osmond, Andrea Berbel, Olivia Platt.

PHOTO - RIGHT: Natalie Sproston (as Arvida Abernathy) and Olivia Deverill (as Sarah Brown).

Dolls – Abi Marsh, Amber McLean, Lauren Eastwood, Tara Scaife, Hannah Morris, Elliemae Dunn, Lexi O’Sullivan, Hannah Pritchard.

Band – Jess Hughes, Grace Pryor, Liv Drayton, Vienna Gould, Alannya Blackmore.

Cops – Lauren Blackmore, Libby Osmond.

Cast and Crew: Audio Supervision – Chris Blundon; Music Soundtracks – Will Hallett; Mixer – Jacob Bellamy; Kieran Paul – Lights; Backstage Microphones – Tom Helyar; Backstage – Alex Plimley, Ben Hughes, Karam Majzoub, Harry Sproston, Sam Green.

Special thanks: Tina Clements – for too many things to mention; Mr Chapple, DT technicians, students – set and props; Miss Gillies and students – props; Mr Ayres and students – backdrop; Mrs Edmondson and students – refreshments; Mr Canavan and students – music; Miss Lowery and students – music; Courtney Randino – set design.

Photo Galleries from Guys and Dolls can be found on the following links below.

Photo Gallery Part 1: http://www.yeovilpress.co.uk/blog/2015/02/14/guys-and-dolls-at-preston-school-pt-1-february-2015/ .

Photo Gallery Part 2: http://www.yeovilpress.co.uk/blog/2015/02/14/guys-and-dolls-at-preston-school-pt-2-february-2015/ .

Photo Gallery Part 3: http://www.yeovilpress.co.uk/blog/2015/02/14/guys-and-dolls-at-preston-school-pt-3-february-2015/ .

Photo Gallery Part 4: http://www.yeovilpress.co.uk/blog/2015/02/14/guys-and-dolls-at-preston-school-pt-4-february-2015/ .

Photo Gallery Part 5: http://www.yeovilpress.co.uk/blog/2015/02/14/guys-and-dolls-at-preston-school-pt-5-february-2015/ .

Photo Gallery Part 6: http://www.yeovilpress.co.uk/blog/2015/02/14/guys-and-dolls-at-preston-school-pt-6-february-2015/ .

Photo Gallery Part 7: http://www.yeovilpress.co.uk/blog/2015/02/14/guys-and-dolls-at-preston-school-pt-7-february-2015/ .

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