‘Agatha Rex’ was adapted by Canadian playwright and creative writing lecturer, Lindsay Price from the theme of ‘Antigone’ by Sophocles. It is being presented as part of ‘Teens at Garrick’s’ mini season. Price is the resident playwright for Theatrefolk and co-founder of the Drama Teacher Academy. She has been a professional playwright for twenty years and writes plays mainly for the school market in wildly diverse countries as Canada, the UK, Australia, Ecuador, Singapore, China and Peru.
‘Teens at Garrick’ are primarily a top rate acting school for beginners, but they also appreciate the importance of helping the less fortunate or talented and giving them courage and pride through acting.
This 100-minute production, which is suitable for 10 yrs. olds and up, can be seen at the Garrick Theatre, 16 Meadow Street in Guildford on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 7.30 until Saturday 17th August. There are matinées at 3.00 pm on 10th, 11th and 17th August.
The Scene: Thursday morning at Thebes, a modern-day high school.
The Set: Most of the stage represents the school hall. At the rear was a balcony the width of the stage – raised about 1 metre – that led to the school’s main double door and the headmistress’s office. This ideal set was a re-use of Graeme Dick, Mark Owen and Michael Vincent’s set for Garrick’s recent hit, ‘Popcorn’.
The simple but effective lighting and soundscape were designed and operated by Edi Baross.
As the scholars (the audience) are filing into the theatre from the foyer, a monitor rings the school bell and orders us not to loiter but to hurry up. With clipboards in hand, pacing back and forth on the stage is the power mad Head Prefect, Eunice (Amrita Manchanda) and her assistant, Joanne (Saskia Henderson). The prefects ensure that EVERY school rule is observed from not running in the corridor, to having the correct uniform. As the monitors check the students, larrikin Paul Rex (Matthew Roberts) and his shy brother Elliot Rex (Gus Hameister) arrive with their flashy new ear studs. They are immediately sent to the Principal’s office.
The stern faced, miserable Principal, Dr. Creon (Nicola Kinnane) took one look at Paul and expelled him without any discussion. Because Elliot is a much more pleasant lad, he was only given detention and minor tasks as punishment. Their sister is the head girl of the school, Agatha Rex (Micky Oberlin-Brown / Teagan Harris), a model student. She complains that the punishment is unfair and very biased. Even her young sister, the insipid Irene Rex (Karla Jones) agrees but suggests that Agatha cools down.
Agatha gets very little support from the majority of the pupils; however, humble Harriet (Dakota Harrington-Owen) Dr. Creon’s daughter gives her encouragement. Dr Creon calls a meeting with Terry (Elijah Weighall) the Head of the PTA to discuss the expulsion.
What will happen? Will Agatha be expelled too?
Although described as the ‘chorus’, many of the following actors had a couple of dozen lines, almost as many as some leads. The other students included Penelope (Natalia Smith), Rhea (Kayla Hirschi), Denny (Helena Johnson), Diana (Laura Stegink), Jason (Patryck Smith), Eddie (Ellie Roenfeldt), Art (Ben Lock), Donna (Beth McGowan), Herman (Blake Harapeet) and Geraldine (Phoebe Mills).
Although described as the ‘chorus’, many of the following actors had a couple of dozen lines, almost as many as some leads. The other students included Penelope (Natalia Smith), Rhea (Kayla Hirschi), Denny (Helena Johnson), Diana (Laura Stegink), Jason (Patryck Smith), Eddie (Ellie Roenfeldt), Art (Ben Lock), Donna (Beth McGowan), Herman (Blake Harapeet) and Geraldine (Phoebe Mills).
Throughout the day the students are bombarded with instructions over the school Tannoy system on how to behave and how to dress. At times the children would gather in the school hall and in a form of defiance would, by their dance routines of complex movements and military-like choreography (devised by Natalia Smith) mock the dress code and behaviour being demanded.
The whole company sang impressively and marched with complicated interweaving routines. All the children could belt out the rule book; although one or two struggled to sing and dance and do the robotic actions in simultaneous harmony. The overall effect was clever, well-rehearsed and with no lost sheep wandering the stage wondering what was going happen next.
Directed by Gail Lusted and her assistant Caitlyn Roberts the students produced quite a few (intended) dramatic moments. Considering the large number of performers on stage and the intricacy of their routines, the production for these 12 to 17 years olds was most admirable. Very well done.