Whole Person Education - Knox Grammar School

KNOX ACADEMY OF PERFORMING ARTSBugsy: A Pie in the FaceSam SuleymanA ‘pie-eyed’ castBugsy Malone was best known for launchingthe acting careers of Jodie Foster and ScottBaio, until the KAPA production came along.The film, with songs by Paul Williams and scriptby Alan Parker was adapted by him especiallyfor schools. The basic premise is that the realgangsters of 1929 are played by young people,and yes there is a moral to the story. The finale,We could have been anything we wanted to be,reminds us all that we have choices to make.Directors Kerry Woods and Karen Brucechose their cast wisely. Alex Landsberry hadall the charisma Bugsy needs. William Gulsonas Fat Sam has the loudest voice heard in theDrama Centre in recent years. Johnathon Choused a dazzling array of accents and JasperDweck revealed considerable comic ability.The singing was of a high standard and a greatcredit to Karen Bruce’s vocal coaching. Specialmention goes to Sam Suleyman’s movingrendition of Tomorrow.Adam Lindberg turned the Drama Centre intoa nightclub with tables and chairs, garish lightingand a bevy of beauties including Josi Ellem asBlousey Brown, Bridget Haberecht as Tallulah(the Jodie Foster role), Carla and Melody vander Wallen, and a mysterious woman in fishnetstockings who never said a word. There weregangsters a plenty from Leo Turner’s DandyDan to Ian Powell (Cagey Joe), Jordan Forster(Leroy) and Sam Bunt (Doodle).The pit orchestra was sensational withWilliam Charalambous, Thomas Spencer,Charles Freeman and Jacob van Egmond ablysupported by Mr Andrew Chessher and MrJames Brice. They played as the speakeasycustomers arrived and played us out again togreat applause.The singing was of a highstandard and a great credit toKaren Bruce’s vocal coaching.Head of KAPA and producer, Mr CharlesHambling said he had never seen a cast makesuch colossal leaps forward in the course of arun. High praise indeed for the Junior Musicalcast and crew.Kerry Woods has contributed to Knox musicalsand dance for so long now it is easy to take herexcellent work for granted. Her ability to buildthe confidence of students, who were singing,dancing and acting on stage for the very firsttime, is a testament to her skill.The film used 1000 custard pies and 100gallons of synthetic cream; Knox used shavingcream and sticky string cleaned up by thestage crew and cast every night – a super piefight to leave the audience smiling.Ms Wendy BuswellDrama TeacherJasper Dweck has been ‘shot’Gangsters take a breakAlexander Landsberry as BugsyThe Thistle / June 2011 | 22