'Encore' - 2008

Date: Sunday 29 June 2008

For eighteen years, Richard Parsons has been Director of Drama - among many other things! - at St Edmund's School, but he is moving on at the end of the term to settle in the south-west, leaving Canterbury for Plymouth.

Last night pupils past and present came together to celebrate his career at St Edmund's with a reprise of highlights from the shows of yesteryear. The format of the evening was true 'showbiz', with a champagne reception for guests preceding a two part programme, separated by a fork supper in the marquee, and a fund-raising raffle for prizes generously donated for the event. It was wonderful to welcome back to St Edmund's former pupils, parents, members of staff, and 'friends of the School' in every shape and form.

The highlights of the past eighteen years - and they were truly highlights - were interspersed with pupil reminiscences about the influence of RMP an their lives then and now, and clips from video productions of former shows. The show itself had everything from massive full cast showstopping musical numbers, to group and solo performances. The first item set a tone and a level which never dropped for nearly two and a half hours, as the cast threw themselves into the unbeatable 'High School Hop' from 'Grease' (1999).

A full 'professional' review will surely refer to every part of the programme.For this brief reflection the stand-outs for me were Geoff Bailey, Rachel Watts, and Emma Gifford turning back the clock to 1991 and the 'Twenties with the original 'Boyfriend' version of 'Won't You Charleston with Me?', and from the second half, Dan Winter (1994) revisiting 'The Mikado', and 'Tit Willow'. Mind you, not many audience members would have remembered their original SES versions!

Both halves ended with showstoppers: 'Monster Mash'/'Great Balls of Fire' ('Return to the Forbidden Planet',2005), and 'Morning Glow' from the 2004 show, 'Pippin', which demanded a personal appearance from Mr P, and two encores, to end 'Encore 2008'.

Fantastic entertainment, fantastic quality, fantastic cast, and a fantastic audience. Good luck Mr P in Plymouth - don't stop doing what you are so superb at - bringing the best out of young people on stage. There must be a West Country theatre company that will welcome him with open arms!