Hating Alison Ashley

If you think you know what school students are really like, you should see these grade eights at the notorious Barrington East School.  Work and good behaviour are foreign to them. The dominant person is Erica Yurken, who  believes  she is destined for a glittering stage career. Alison Ashley arrives as a complete contrast to the others – she is beautiful, rich, clever and well behaved. The school’s one week camp brings everything to a head when they  stage the camp play.

Tanja Stanley’s directional skills were further extended with this production as it was done completely by their Youth Theatre group, under the guidance of senior mentors. The fact that half of the characters were year eight students  helped but the whole show flowed quite well. The set was minimal but allowed the action to move along smoothly. The over the top camp play was hilarious and had the audience laughing loudly. The standards of the performances varied a good deal with some very impressive. Emma Hutt as Erica Yurkin was good in one of the central roles. When Tyallah Bullock, who was an equally impressive Alison Ashley was on stage with her, the  two young actors interacted really well.  Also worthy of mention were Jamie-Lee Bone as school teacher Miss Belmont and Ethan Beer as Barry Hollis, the pain in the neck student. Others will undoubtedly improve during the run and with this experience.

Mousetrap Theatre is to be congratulated for exposing the young actors and theatre crew to this successful practical experience.  We will see many of these performers in the years to come. Loved the play within the play in particular.

William Davies