SHENSTON IAN 88 - Old Silhillians Association

Just because it was for the sixth form only does not mean it was a 'blue' show but it
was a true acidic revue and should remain so in future years.
Sketches were written about Mr. Benge and Mrs. Keil together with many
involving Showjumping, trips to Blackpool and 'Mr. and Mrs.' There was some
improvised Spike Milligan poetry and the Show was topped with a vicious roll-call.
M. Fisher
JAGO'S GREASY
A Director's View
"Run along, David, and be a good critic. . ." Right, the acting was dreadful,
the stage management was diabolical, the sound was unsound and the lighting was
dull. All I can say is, what did you expect ? No formal drama on the curriculum, no
school money to support the students, no atter-school slots and a myriad of
bureacratic hurdles combined to produce Greasy, the accident of the year waiting
to happen.
Now can I say something nice? Oh goody. Greasy was produced in just two-
and-a-half weeks, including scripting and casting but was the most popular singleperformance
stage show in school history. People didn't walk out after ten minutes,
either; they kept coming in till the aisles were full too! It was 'the one that I want' to
the Evening Mail and a 'hit musical' to the Solihull Times, and two newspapers
can't be wrong!
Personally, I cannot claim that our success was the result of any individual
endeavours. Greasy was simply the 'right' thing to do. The Opera Group wouldn't
touch it and the Drama Society never thought of it, so it fell to the students
themselves to give what was wanted and redress the artistic imbalance.
Perhaps Greasy is the signpost to a brighter future for a revue that has lost its
way in recent years. Perhaps now the Opera Group will 'take the plunge'. As for
Jago, there is much up- and-coming young talent with even more ideas and I wish
Ed, Rick, Jim and the two Daves all the best for next year. In the immortal words
of Ronald Reagan: "You ain't seen nothin' yet" and he ought to know; he's been in
acting all his life!
D. Viney