It’s time to get out the hockey sticks for another ripping yarn as that hit of the 1980s Daisy Pulls It Off by Denise Deegan returns to the West End. This new production directed by Nicholas Scrivens, is performed by the first graduating group of BA Actor – Musicians at the Guildford School of Acting (GSA).
The year is 1927 and Daisy Meredith is the first scholarship girl taken from an elementary school to be granted access to the hallowed halls of the prestigious Grangewood School for Young Ladies. Enthusiastic and plucky to the last, Daisy finds herself struggling against unspeakable snobs, Sybil Burlington and Monica Smithers, who concoct ghastly schemes to get her expelled. Ably assisted by her new best friend, the madcap Trixie Martin, Daisy finds herself caught up in a series of irresistible adventures including a search for the missing “Beaumont Treasure”. Can Daisy work out mysterious clues and save the school from closure? What secrets does the enigmatic music teacher Mr Scoblowski hide?
This riotous affectionate pastiche of a classic girls’ school story is full of quirky characters and moves at a rollicking pace. Although the cast judges the balance between taking it all seriously and sending it up, I feel the parodic elements at times tend to be over-emphasised and the humour milked for all its worth and this tends to weaken the realism of the piece. Furthermore the production could do with some judicious pruning as the second half seems overstretched.
The talented cast acquit themselves well, particularly Marina Papadopoulos as Daisy, Katy Ellis as Trixie Martin, Gemma Evans as Monica Smithers, Persia Babayan-Taylor as Sybil Burlington and Mark Fitzsimmons as Mr Scoblowski,
This then is an entertaining show which celebrates with a sly wit and a big heart, an arguably sweeter, more innocent era.
Daisy Pulls It Off
Runs until Saturday 30 June at Charing Cross Theatre, London.
Box office: 08444930650
About the Author / Gareth Hargreaves
Gareth looks after all editorial content on 50connect. He is the Swiss Army knife of content ideas and production.
