Performing Arts

College Musical

The efforts that have been put into this year’s College Musical, 'Monty Python’s Spamalot' have been nothing short of remarkable. Spamalot centres around the story of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. After having greatness bestowed upon him by a mystical lake-dwelling Lady, King Arthur is sent forth on a quest to find the Holy Grail.

Preparing the musical is a monumental task that requires a large group of people to come together with a common aim; presenting a memorable experience for the College community. I invite you all to get behind the 75+ students and staff who have worked across much of this year to stage this show.

I would like to make special mention of Mrs Gail Sims; mild-mannered First Aid attendant by day, ruthless and talented costume mistress by night. Spamalot contains close to 200 costumes ranging from ‘trick’ suits of armour to South American Samba Costumes and lots of hats! Most of the company have 6-7 costumes throughout the two-hour show. Gail has sourced, fitted, altered and sometimes sewn from scratch, each one of them.

I would also like to make mention of Mr Luciano Bernes, who has stamped his artistic flair across our staging of the show. While many of the set pieces have been sourced from previous productions, Luciano has added scenic artwork to jazz things up and at times, created some pieces from scratch. His miniature castle has to be seen to be believed, complete with cut-outs of each cast and crew member. Similarly, is the surprise “hand-of-God” which helps the knights on their quest.

Neither Gail nor Luciano are part of the Performing Arts department but each have put in countless hours of their own time to give our students, and you the audience, an experience like no other.

Over 650 tickets have already been sold for the five performances which commence tonight Friday 26 July at 7.30pm. Tickets can be purchased online up to 6.45pm and then at the door for a slightly higher price. There is then a second performance tomorrow night at 7.30pm.

Shows continue next week with a school matinee starting at 4.00pm, where all tickets are $20.00. The final two performances will take place on Friday night, 2 August at 7.30pm and then Saturday afternoon, 3 August  at 2.00pm.

It is by far the most intricate show we have put together and the most fun you will have all winter, with laughs galore and something for everyone. Spamalot contains theatrical smoke effects, explosions, mild adult language, historical inaccuracies, unexplained characters, flying monkeys**, audience interaction, entirely unconvincing violence, a dark and very expensive forest, fake fish, Vegas showgirls, puppetry, an audience singalong, surprise guest stars and mime. Oh, “and dressing up and dancing!”

Tickets prices range from $20.00 - $27.50 or you can get a family of four for $90.00 (an average of $22.50 per ticket) and can be purchased at https://www.trybooking.com/BASFI.

** We may have made the bit up about the monkeys!

Mr Michael Cooper

Director of Performing Arts