Recess! - The Musical

Recess! is essentially a string of "Teacher, Teacher!" jokes, with a fragment of storyline, turned into a musical. Presumably originally aimed at Middle America, it is an inoffensive, pleasant little comedy, intended to have broad appeal.

Phoenix's young cast consists of high school students from Years 7 to 12, who bring a broad range of experience to this show.

On the last day of school, a young relief teacher, played by youngest member of the cast, twelve year old Emily Chivers, is brought in to teach and examine a school's most unruly class. Emily Chivers delivers an excellent performance, lending sweetness, maturity and a lovely singing voice to Miss Beatrice Quackenbush.

Lili Mae Thoms plays Principal Quendoline Crabapple, in a broad-stroke, confident performance, looking convincingly mature.

The class work nicely as an ensemble, bringing quirky characters to life. Ebony Howard, Annie Tapping, Ella Griffiths, Edan Frazer, Ruby Rose Thoms, Brooklyn Leigh Thomas, Rebecca Collin, Charlie Montgomery, Laura Foster, Kesha Girrsang and Elias Shoosmith are a united team of rebels with a common goal.

There are only five songs in this musical, but they are well rehearsed and nicely prepared by musical director Krispin Maesalu and choreographer Mikaela Innes.

The Memorial Hall's distinctive proscenium arch was an ideal frame for a 1952 classroom, and the set was nicely presented. I'm not sure why elementary school students in 1950s America were wearing school uniforms though, I feel like this made things more difficult than necessary for the costumiers.

I did enjoy the improvised explanation for Emily Chivers (real life) broken arm. The Doris Day like good girl apparently broke it at roller derby!

Wonderful to see the growing number of Youth Productions in Perth. This was a cast who were clearly having fun and developing theatrical skills, while providing fun entertainment.

Kimberley Shaw