To the stage

MORTLAKE College students put a fresh spin on a classic Monty Python tale as part of this year’s school production.

Audience members did their best to contain their laugher as students put on a side-splitting performance of Monty Python’s Spamalot over the past week.

Mortlake College assistant principal Anne DeManser said this year’s cast brought youthful exuberance to a challenging role – requiring not only singing and choreography but a keen sense of comedic timing.

“We’ve been thrilled with this year’s cast, particularly those in lead roles,” she said.

“Spamalot may seem a simple play but comedic timing is a very difficult thing to teach and the students have worked hard to get it right.

“This year our male leads are also much younger than in previous years so it is a great achievement for them to have shown the maturity to be so successful in creating this fun filled show.”

The production requires a cast of 52 students, spanning from Year six through 12, which Mrs DeManser feels provides far-reaching benefits to students.

“The production is an excellent way for us to teach real life, interpersonal and personal capabilities in a scaffolded cross age task,” she said.

“Each cast member has a personal goal that is just outside their comfort zone, for some this is donning a green umbrella as a tree, for others it’s the triple threat challenge of singing, dancing and acting at the same time.”

While deserved praise was aplenty for the entire student cohort, Mrs DeManser said a school captain had excelled when given the opportunity to lead as part of her studies.

“A great part of the success this year is due to the work of our arts captain, Isabella Pickford, who plays Patsy in the show,” she said.

“As part of her leadership role, and her course work in Victorian Certificate of Education theatre studies, she has done much of the choreography and blocking.

“She’s also run lunchtime rehearsals and provided a liaison between the adult production team and the cast.”