It may be raining outside but it was certainly Summer at Ogstoun Theatre and in the Drama Department in the last week of term when the Year 10 students presented their end-of-term production The Last Resort.
The Last Resort is a sort of modern Under Milkwood which shows us a day in the life of a typical seaside resort. The Last Resort tells not one but several stories which interweave with each other as the "day" at Ferryton-on-Sea unfolds.
It was a beautiful-looking production with a sweeping raked stage representing the beach rails, lampposts and bandolier lights representing the promenade and the pier. The large white cyclorama at the back projected constantly changing photographic images of the various locations and scenes and, combined with Mr Parker’s amazing lighting plot operated by Becky and Emily, created a wonderfully visual delight.
The play uses a beautifully choreographed chorus, played with great skill timing and talent by Camilla, Bronwen, Iona, Zina, Sarah, Lucy, Kersandra and Hannah to take us through the day by linking the action and commentating on the scenes. Who will forget the new age Punch and Judy show led by Camilla and Bronwen as the puppeteers!?
There were also other linking devices - such as interventions from Bobby Brewster, the early morning DJ on West Coast Radio played with great energy by Marco - to shift the attention from Vic Eastwood - the early morning local milkman coolly played by Craig P, lost in his dreams of emulating his hero (Clint) before shifting our attention to Nellie Crabtree, a "woman of the road" eccentrically played by Dione. She is eager to share some of her "finds" with Mr Minesweep, also eccentrically played by Jack, as he sweeps the beach with his trusty metal detector. The weather girl from her helicopter (played by Hannah) then woke us up as we fired in to a huge dance routine ably created by Mrs Dabell to show the whole town waking up.
Soon, however, the traffic starts to build up en route to Ferryton and we join the Killjoy family, played with great anger and accents by Alex M, Gabby, Craig M and Sarah, stuck in a jam on the M5, their rusting Ford Capri overheating in the sun. Nevertheless, they remain determined to enjoy a family day out - "even if it kills them". They contrast with the beautiful Brights, whizzingly played by Jonathon, Zina, Peter and Alex L. Lost in 1950's optimism, they too are bound for Ferryton but have the time to enjoy tea and a picnic in a lay-by whilst watching the traffic go past.
Back at Ferryton, the beach shops open up and the donkeys, played by the Chorus, arrive for a busy day on the beach by way of a lovely welly dance, choreographed by Mrs Dabell, murderously intent on dumping as many children into the sea as they can. They look on as three old ladies - beautifully observed by Bronwen, Peter and Iona - struggle to get off a coach on the sea front, arriving for yet another day out at the seaside. As the day moves on the old ladies' dark secret is revealed. Was the death of their husbands all those years ago really an accident?
The "lads", as created by Craig P, Andy, Craig M and Alex M, finally struggle from their beds to arrive at the beach, eager to move in on a group of "girls", as portrayed by Esther, Daisy, Stef and Kiki, out for a good time. In contrast, a young pregnant girl, poignantly played by Lucy, running away to be with her boyfriend (so she thinks) is reflecting on the outcome of just such a previous holiday romance.
And so the day goes on. The families arrive to enjoy sandcastles and amusement arcades (except for Wayne Killjoy whose Capri gets stuck in the sand of the beach car park as the tide races in). A group of surfers, wittily conjured by Alex M, Marco and Craig M, finally conquer the last beach in the west (via a highly dynamic and dangerous Tesco’s trolley routine!), despite the sewage outfall. The seagulls, created with great energy by Gabby, Sophie, Kiki and Jack, fight over endless wrappers of fish and chips.
As day turns to night, the families depart leaving the resort to the young. Boy racers, created by the Chorus, arrive on the seafront and weary bouncers reflect on the antics of the "lads and lasses" around them. In "Hollywood Nights" - Ferryton's premiere nightclub - the lads use their best moves and some strike it lucky despite the attention of the Bouncers.
In the small hours we follow a lad and his girl to the cliffs above the town. As their clifftop romance slips away from the shadows the pregnant girl emerges - her boyfriend nowhere to be seen. As she looks from the cliffs to the seas below she contemplates jumping before realising that life is worth having and another day is another day.
Thus the day at Ferryton-on -Sea ends.
The rocking music soundtrack that accompanied the whole show, operated by Connor, ended with an upbeat song and there was a real sense of celebration and optimism as the young cast took their well-earned bows.