Gun-totin' Gangsters Hit the Stage!

Not many girls get to play the role of New York gangsters, but they did at Redland High when the Drama department staged a production of the classic children's musical, ‘Bugsy Malone'. The School acquired the sleazy ambience of New York's Lower East Side as Fat Sam's Grand Slam Speakeasy, the Sluggers' Gym and Madame Maroni's Hair Parlour were brought vividly to life. 

Most of the major parts in the show are written for boys, but the Redland High girls relished getting their teeth into them – a chance they would never have in a co-educational school. Sisters Eva and Hettie Feiler took on the two male leads of Bugsy and Fat Sam, with Eva bringing her experience as a member of the National Youth Theatre to the role. As for the play's handful of female characters - and WHAT a handful they were - Naomi Wardrop and Isabelle Peters vamped their way through the action as showgirls Blousey and Tallulah.

A colourful cast of 70 also featured a ventriloquist, a bent cop, a would-be boxing champ and assorted Chinese-laundry workers, not to mention Looney Bergonzi – what kind of a crazy name is that? All the show's choreography was arranged by the girls themselves and the music was provided by "The Speakeasy Band”, made up of pupils and teachers. Lara Sharman, Drama teacher and director of the show said, "Our multi-talented girls have really enjoyed putting on this show - singers, dancers, actors and musicians have all made a contribution.”

Congratulations to everyone involved - click on an image below to enlarge.