I'd almost forgotten about John Curtin College of the Arts, a spectacular private school with an emphasis on training future successful auditionees for WAAPA. I must have heard of it when I was performing in my own high school musicals... but Armadale High, despite it's dedicated music program, is a far cry from this Fremantle academic and arts institution and I'm sure I was probably jealous of every single one of the students who was lucky enough to mark attendance here.
A small but colourful entry in a community newspaper stated that William Congreve's Restoration comedy classic The Way of the World was being performed for the first time in 25 years at Curtin Theatre, located on the school grounds and starring "senior gifted and talented drama students" directed by Raymond Omodei.
I'm passingly familiar with this work due to it's sophisticated and witty monologues and was curious as to how the whole play might look on stage. Arriving just as the tones signalled the show was about to start, I dashed in, grabbed a ticket from a teacher/ parent vendor and scored a seat with an envious amount of legroom in comparison to the average. (It pays to be close to the aisle!)
Glancing around I was proven right in my teenage assumption of private school equals awesome infrastructure as the theatre was fantastic, with a large stage cleverly utilised by set and lighting designer Jake Newby to feature large painted panels of complementary or suggestive artworks.
The wardrobe worked on by Isabelle McGrath also suitably represented the ostentation of the time, with elaborate gowns, jackets and knickerbockers costumed throughout, and the most hideously large wigs I've ever seen suffered under by most of the male cast. The men in general also wore a much thicker mask of makeup; while the women (save dowager Lady Wishfort) though cinched in to emphasize a wasp waist and buxom decolletage were able to look far fresher with little powder and pretty hairstyles. At the time, this was the way of the world...
Though the plot was a trifle convoluted, and the language at times unfamiliar, the cast and the crew could not be faulted and the performances were impeccable and well received by the audience. Witwoud (Michael Colson) and Petulant (Cameron Scott) deserve props for portraying such utterly ridiculous fops and talented Rose Riley was very funny as the melodramatic Lady Wishfort. Dark horses Fainall (Adam Sollis) and his lover Mrs Marwood (Zhada Kekez) provided a complex conflict to the comedy, but ultimately a clever resolution is presented at the denouement and all ends happily with the engagement of the the sharp tongued and quick witted sparring partners Millamant (Holly O'Donoghoe) and Mirabell (Jackson Heinz).
I was very impressed with the production and while still slightly envious, I'll admit that this is more than tempered by my admiration for the talent and ambition of the actors and production staff. I'll make sure I'm on the lookout for future shows!
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A very engaging review as always. It made me wish I was there. I hope John Curtin pick it up and use it in their newsletter or end of term/year magazine. Re ostentatious Private schools, having put both my boys through Private schools I can tell you that the facilities don't come without cost to the many hard working and often middle income families. That's just where they place their priorities. I can also say that I am not convinced at all that the benefits of private schools are value for money when you consider a parent may pay a couple of hundred dollars in fees per year at a public school yet many private schools have fees of $10,000 - $15,000. Thats a really good holiday or a new car or an investment property or bigger house mortgage. Or, in the case of my sons, had I invested the money conservatively I could have given them about $180,000 each when they finished year 12 based on average annual fees of $10k pa each over their school years. Though if I add two years of non subsidised private preschool and donations to building funds it could have been much more! Of course I know the choice of either public or private isn't even available to everyone. But I'm not sure I would make the same choice if I was looking at it today particularly if I lived in the areas for say Churchlands, Rossmoyne, Applecross and other good performing public schools. Jaymez
ReplyDeleteI agree that the production of The Way of the World was excellent. the young actors under the direction of Raymond Omodei did an outstanding job especially as they had to learn so many complex lines. But I must point out that John Curtin College of the Arts is most definitely not a private school. It is a state school and students enter the specialist school via an audition and interview. For more details visit www.jc.wa.edu.au
ReplyDeleteGreat review, thanks so much. The cast and crew, director and staff put in huge hours for months, as the Mother of one of the cast members listed I can tell you JUST how hard they work. Just a point for you to remember for the next JC production you may attend. John Curtin is a Public School not a Private one, there may have been some confusion as the Gifted and Talented program is so competitive to get into. The facilities were funded by careful administration of the school, parents and various Govt and Arts Grants. Once again thanks
ReplyDeleteThank you to the two above comments for the correction that the excellent John Curtin College of the Arts is actually part of the West Australian state school system.
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