Student Ambassador Review: Catcher

You walk into a run-down, New York hotel room with a 1970’s TV, dull furniture and a jigsaw puzzle ceiling. Suddenly, a busy-looking woman comes in and starts babbling to the audience, and gradually the play drags you away into the world of Holden Caulfield and Mark ‘Chappy’, where everyone is a phoney and ‘The catcher in the Rye’ is the Bible.

Three famous men and a girl in a hotel room… Set the night before John Lennon’s death, ‘Catcher’ gives you a peek at what the murderer was really thinking, and his fictional alter-ego.

You come out with the meaning of life, people and Beatles songs spinning round your head.

It was an amazingly witty, interesting play and very original.  I would recommend this play for ages 12+.

Ela, Year 8, Joseph Rowntree School

The Wizard of Oz – Rehearsal Blog 4

Return to Oz Part 2
Here we are then, part 2 of 2 I said that we had met the Tinman, the Lion AND the Munchkins this week and I wasn’t telling fibs!!!!

So I had a treat this week! On Friday I met the Munchkins, as we were recapping some of the early scenes I noticed a few peering eyes at the door. At about 7.30pm the doors open and we are invaded by 40 Munchkins who flood into the room. The noise is immense and the age range goes from about 5 years to around 15 years of age. For those who don’t know, a search for Munchkins was held at the Theatre Royal in February where around 150 auditioning Munchkins was whittled down to two teams of 20, who will perform on alternative nights. But let me tell you, once those Munchkins got down to business, it was fantastic! I didn’t stop smiling at all and I must say that the talent within those Munchkins is of an extremely high level…some real future stars in there. It’s a complicated scene and they do so well! I am definitely looking forward to it! Most of the children make me look like a bad dancer too!!!

Now unfortunately I had missed the blocking rehearsal for the Lion’s scene but a recap on the Friday meant I wasn’t going to be completely in the dark. So; on I walk with Gareth (Tinman) and Eleanor (Dorothy) to the classic: “Lions and Tigers and Bears OH MY!” and from behind me a roar and out leaps Jim (The Lion). Once again I end up on the floor (no injuries this time…victory!) and from the second Jim opens his mouth: “Put em’ up! Put em’ up” the room erupts into laughter. Jim’s not only good…he’s really good…and funny. You’re really in for a treat! Jim bounds about acting tough and frightening everyone until Eleanour gives him a little tap on the nose and then he immediately fills up with tears and shows himself for the coward he is. The scene continues and then the song begins, it’s very good, Jim sings it very well, but more importantly: finally….finally…I feel like I can dance better than someone!!!

Stay tuned as rehearsals continue
Tim