Liar By Gregory Burke
Friday, 19th December, 2008
School productions can be dire, parents and teachers sit and smile and applaud graciously with knotted stomachs. Not so this production.
It was quite short, fast paced and very funny. The actors were heard clearly, well rehearsed, confident and above all enjoying themselves.
The plot revolves around new boy Ronnie who was so desperate to chat up the lovely Katie that he lied about everything and anything to impress her. Goaded on by his two mates played by Frazer Jolly and Sam Balls, who both showed great comic timing, when advising on his next course of action. Little did he know that it was a wind up, as they told their girl friends all. The girls, played by Sara Stones and Aimee-Louisa Button had very funny repeat sequences with Katie as they constantly made up in the toilet mirrors.
The central two parts, taken by Tom Wright and Saskia Hadley kept the action going as they zoomed on and off stage through seventeen mini-scenes and were so convincing that I am sure the audience forgot it was a play. They were both very very good - totally believable.
The extra fun was added by the 'tribes'. Thoroughly stereotyped, but very well played by all, as they paraded around the school complete with their tribal uniforms– all OTT and over the top of their school uniform. Chavs, Hoolies, Goths and Fems all wonderfully comic. Ed Smith as the geek got the biggest cheer and Mo Hadley delivered his Goth lines with huge aplomb– plus a very funny cameo at the end with Eleanor Hucklesby.
Full marks to director Mr Lawrie Hammond. The play was never boring as he had kept the scenes hard on each other by switching the action from side to side and keeping the actors on stage when possible. Miking the stage is always disappointing to see but it did mean that all of the words were heard. The few prompts called did not spoil the enjoyment for the audience nor phase the young actors on stage. An all-round great production. SBEC needs to be proud of this talented and enterprising group of youngsters.