Packwoodian 2011-12 pps1-51 070912_Layout 1 07/09/2012 14:37 Page 24
EVENTS
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs The juniors’ tremendous production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in the summer term was an extravaganza of colour, music and dance. It was a visually stunning production with spectacular costumes produced by Mrs Jones (and mum!), lively songs and vibrant dance routines. Music came from a talented band of musicians including music scholars Gideon Turner and Chan Kathuria with Llyr HeywardJones on drums and Miss McEntee at the piano. Mrs Boutwood, as Musical Director, brought out the very best in the children whose singing throughout the production (individual performers and chorus alike) was wonderful. Mrs Hughes and Miss Willis were responsible for the excellent choreography, with a little bit of help from the children themselves who clearly relished their opportunity to perform. The huge cast was comprised of almost every child in the 6s, 5s and 4s and their performances were a triumph of organisation and teamwork brought together expertly by the energetic Director, Miss Goulding, and her team of helpers. The musical recounts the familiar fairy story of Snow White through song and rhyme. It is based on Roald Dahl’s poem which showcases his characteristic sense of humour and is full of child-pleasing nasty bits! Georgie Nicholas, Anna Cowan and Sophia Bureau were the confident narrators of the show and they delivered their lines flawlessly. Olivia Moir gave an excellent, chilling performance as the vain and merciless queen who demands the murder of Snow White. Fortunately, the huntsman charged with this gruesome task, played with great self-assurance (and a lovely singing voice) by Edward Bayliss, proves to have a kind heart and allows Snow White to escape into the forest. The enchanted forest itself was quite a showstealer made up of cleverly costumed trees. They created a really effective menacing atmosphere on stage as Snow White tried to hide from the huntsman.
Packwood quiz night A very encouraging response this year saw over 100 parents and children take part in the quiz. Once again there was a wide range of questions appropriate for both the younger members of the audience as well as the more ‘hardened’ quizzers, though by no means was the occasion destined to be anything but convivial and informal. The evening got off to a most inauspicious start with the brand new microphone deciding that it did not want to perform properly and giving up the ghost midway through the first round! The prospect of the quizmaster having to shout at the top of his voice for the rest of the evening was a daunting one, but thankfully, the problem was solved with a replacement battery. With subjects ranging from ‘Simpsons characters’ through ‘Historical Figures’ and ‘Countries and Currencies’ to the decidedly lowbrow
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‘Football Gaps’, there was something to suit everybody, and at the interval a strong performance from the bookmakers’ ante-post favourites ,The Prittinghams (the Price and Whittingham families), saw them race into what was to prove an unassailable lead. An excellent curry was soon digested, and with several more rounds still to come, including one from Mr Jones who managed to baffle most of us with his ever-popular ‘Country Pursuits’, the evening finished with the ‘Heads and Tails’ game, the £20 prize being pocketed by Tom Hughes. Well done to the Prittinghams, many thanks to all those who attended, and a particular thanks to Mrs Jones for all her sensible advice and suggestions, as well as to the staff (and Jamie Chambers) who volunteered to help. KJW