What a show! Thank you to everyone for all your help and hard work. The following is the official independent review from Sceneone.biz by Linda Kirkman.
AS I sat in the auditorium watching this show I couldn’t help thinking what a loss it will be to the town if this venue is closed down as a theatre. Yes, I do have my reservations about problems with the unsavoury late-night feel of the whole Pier Approach area, with the high parking charges and with the exposure to the elements that makes a walk up to the theatre such an unpleasant experience in bad weather, but the town centre really cannot afford to lose such a valuable asset.
If it must go though, the Swish Party on the Pier at least ensured that it will go with a bang as far as the local theatre scene is concerned. What a night! Swish are regular winners in the Bournemouth Music Competition Festival – so far in the current festival they have amassed over 25 first place wins – and no-one in the audience at this fantastic evening could have any doubt as to the wealth of talent among the school’s students.
The Director, Musical Director and Choreographer clearly inspired the students to great heights, and boy, did it show. The ensemble numbers from shows such as Priscilla Queen Of the Desert, Hercules, Hair, Phantom Of the Opera, Titanic, Whistle Down The Wind, Ragtime and others were outstanding, thanks to vast amounts of energy, precision and sheer talent, and were consequently a joy to watch. Musically there were more than a few stand-out voices so it was hardly a surprise to read in the programme that several of the senior performers will soon be off to major drama schools to train in musical theatre – their first steps on the road to a professional career.
It was, though, perhaps the solo drama excerpts that impressed me the most in this thoroughly enjoyable evening. Eight (Rachael Pennell), Two (Jenny Trapp), Romeo & Juliet (Stacey Mills), Once A Catholic (Catherine Smith), Stags and Hens (Tilly Ingle), Barbarians (Will Smith) and Romeo & Juliet (Ben Mundy) were all performed with such intensity and feeling that I felt shivers go down my spine, and the word ‘brilliant’ sprang to mind in every case, whether comedy or drama.
The final number was Change It, from 9 to 5. Please don’t change anything, Swish, you’re getting it so right.