Sorcerer charms Audience
Posted on Friday 7 July 2006
Students hold a packed audience in Farnborough Sixth Form College's Prospect Theatre spellbound with
Students held a packed audience in Farnborough Sixth Form College's Prospect Theatre spellbound with a magical performance of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Sorcerer on Friday 7 July. The production, under the imaginative eye of Director of Music Paul Bambrough, brought prolonged curtain calls and three encores from the talented student singers.
The Sorcerer was played with confidence and great stage presence by 17 year old Guy Naylor of Ascot whose interpretation of John Wellington Wells, the practitioner of magic, left the audience rocking with mirth but giving prolonged applause, especially after his solo encore.
Among the principals, Peter O'Neill, 18, of Bracknell, stood out for his assured, amusing portrayal of Alexis, the Grenadier Guard who wants to spike the communal tea so everyone can be as happy as he is. The tenor's acting flair was matched by the warm, imaginative talent of Sarah Crabtree, 17, of Farnborough, playing Aline, his betrothed.
Matthew Stone, 19, as Sir Marmaduke, Stephen Willey, 18, as the Vicar and Fran Hiscock, 18, as Lady Sangazure all gave strong and confident performances, as did the other principals, Mari Hunter, 18, Helen Lewis, 17, and Josh Bolton, 17.
The opera was performed in memory of Alan Schofield, former theatre technician at the College who died tragically earlier in the year, months before his retirement.
Paying tribute after the performance, College Principal Dr John Guy said, "Nobody would have enjoyed this performance more than Alan and no one would have given more to make it a success - he was, indeed, a very special man".
