What I Did at School Today

This play is billed as “A comedy by John Mee”. That turned out to be quite an under-statement. I would describe it as cross between a Brian Rix farce and  a Carry On film with all its double entendres, innuendos and over the top characters. The comedy started straight away and built throughout the action - it was hilarious.

We met a jobsworth caretaker, Maxine McManus (Janet Webb) who lived the whole situation in a matter-of-fact manner and treated us to many one-liner comedic comments.

The very pleasant widowed school secretary was Mrs. Jubb  (Pam Stringer) and we had many occasions to enjoy her Malapropisms.

Clive Beasley (Peter Woodman) was the bumptious headmaster who had little interest in anything to do with his pupils and was only concerned with his own life, bank balance and his wish to be regarded as an important pillar of society.

Awaiting the arrival of a supply teacher are four employed teachers, Kate Faraday (Simone Munroe), Jenny Peasgood  (Aimee Bullimore), Pat Lowther (Jodie Armstrong), and Liz Nicholas (Debz Ravera). Kate is on her own but still in love with her university boyfriend from years ago and Jenny is the one about whom we wonder how she passed the teaching exams. These were two people who were resposible for the confusion when the supply teacher who arrives is none other than Kate’s boyfriend,  Dan Thompson (Rob Henry). He tries to steer a steady path through the day and while warding off the forthright attentions of Liz, accidently awakens the romantic feelings of Jenny. Pat is a quiet introvert person who keeps herself to herself and only speaks in monsyllables when asked a question. The headmaster and all the teachers were well cast and very believable.     

The only pupil we saw was Carrie Nation-Street (Grace Brandon) and was played delightfully in the style of Catherine Tate’s Lauren Cooper.

Three more characters appeared in act two - two prospective parents Rupert Smedley-Allen (Simon Hulme) and his wife, Daphne (Lia Roper) together with Councillor Tate (Les Burstow). These were smaller roles and characterised well as they helped bring the action of the play to a very happy and funny conclusion.

Thank you to all on stage, behind the scenes and on the production team for a very amusing and most enjoyable evening.     

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