A tale of loss, love, and redemption

Productions at St Andrew’s College don’t tend to shy away from big themes, and Bright Star was no exception.

The show explores the secrets people carry, the journey to make sense of individual’s experiences, and the seemingly disconnected pieces of peoples’ lives that finally fall into place in order for them to discover the truth, says Director, Laurence Wiseman. “What makes Bright Star even more intriguing, is that it is based on a true story, in some ways a horrific story, but in other ways a beautiful tale of love, loss, and connection.”

Written by US comedian Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, Bright Star cleverly switches back and forth in time between 1925 and 1945, highlighting how decisions made 20 years earlier can continue to impact on the present. It follows the intertwined stories of Alice Murphy, a literary editor, and Billy Cane, a young soldier and wannabe writer, returning to his home in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina from World War II.

The exceptional cast, superb band, and expert production team, including Director, Laurence Wiseman, Musical Director, Duncan Ferguson, and Production Manager, Ginnie Thorner, worked tirelessly over many months to create the show.

“The cast strived for excellence in all they did and can be very proud of the performances they achieved. It was a joy and unforgettable experience for the whole production team to bring Bright Star to life. The is the tenth Senior Production many of us have worked on together.”

The show’s stunning score featured bluegrass, country, and folk music with catchy melodies that were skilfully and sensitively played by the live band, which featured a number of current students, an Old Collegian, and special guests on banjo.

To accompany the fantastic soundtrack, choreographer, Hana Pearce (OC 2019), created some exciting choreography for the large cast (with support from Ginnie Thorner and Xanthe Pearce – Year 12), which Hana sent from Spain where she is currently studying.

With the new Gough Family Theatre due to be completed by the end of the year, this is the last Senior Production to be held in Gym 1. Any constraints this may have created were definitely not visible in the show, with a great story, mesmerising performances by the young performers, staging that seamlessly switched between the pre- and post-war eras, a brilliant