Smike
About Smike
Smike was shown at Market Overton Village Hall from the 21st to the 23rd of June 2001.
Smike is the story of a group of restless schoolchildren who go back in time to the world of Charles Dickens, and see for themselves that there are advantages to living in the twentieth century. Smike has a musical score which combines lively pop music with tuneful melodies and harmonies and also has plenty of movement, colour and humour.
Smike was originally written for the boys of Kingston Grammar School in the early seventies. The witty script and catchy tunes have stood the test of time and made the show enjoyable for all the family.
In February 2001 the Cottesmore Village Players asked for any children who were interested in performing in this show to come along to the village hall for auditions. They were overwhelmed by the response. In all, 26 children and their parents arrived on the first evening to find out what it was all about and 24 of them returned to audition a few days later.
Auditioning was a long process and for those who were last it meant a lot of waiting around, but everyone was very patient and well behaved. In the end everyone had been seen individually to sing, dance and read. The standard of performances from all children was very high but unfortunately due to the limited space on stage only 15 children could be involved in the show. The very difficult task of deciding who these would be fell to Mike Lees (director) and Margaret Wolfe (choreographer). After some long and hard deliberation, decisions were reached, phone calls made and the final cast list decided.
Rehearsals went well and the younger members of the cast relaxed and settled into their parts. Although most of the children had been on stage before in school productions, they found this to be a very different prospect - "much more scary, but great fun". Rehearsals took place every Sunday and Wednesday from the end of February until late June. Each rehearsal lasted 2 - 2 1/2 hours and Wednesday's rehearsals went on until 9:30pm. All the children managed to cope with this as well as school, homework and other hobbies and interests. Everyone worked very hard to make the show a great success.
Press Article
Musical rehearsals prove fun for cast
Fifteen Rutland youngsters are having a great time rehearsing for the pop musical Smike which is being staged at Market Overton Village Hall from June 21 to 23.
The muscial by Roger Holman, Simon May and Clive Barnett is based on Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens and is being presented by the very talented Cottesmore Village Players. Tickets are on sale now from Jan Jarvey on 01572 813694.
Director Mike Lees also plays Nickleby. He said the musical first hit London's West End in the Seventies and was a huge success when it was staged at RAF Cottesmore some time ago. "There is a large cast of children and many of them have more songs to sing than lines to learn. The best number is the show is probably Dotheboys Rock, a lively number set in set at Dotheboys Hall school where the villainous Wackford Squeers is head teacher."
Those Rutlanders who remember the recent TV adaptation of Nicholas Nickleby will recall the great Gregor Fisher relishing the role of evil Squeers who persecuted the unfortunate Smike and pursued him to London.
The musical Smike has a much more upbeat, you'll be pleased to hear. The tunes are jolly and the set pieces suberb.
"We are rehearsing for about two hours twice a week and, although it's tiring for the kids, things are going well." said producer Sue Baker. Eight adults are also involved and they are led by Paul Laird as Squeers, Celia Aldred and Fanny Squeers and Barbara Jenkins as Mrs Squeers.
Greg Dalzell (12) from Oakham plays young Wackford. "My grandfather Brian Moore told me to go in for it and I've found it all very exciting." said the VCC pupil.
Kate Aldred is the orphan Smike. The 13-year-old from Market Overton said: "I am on stage most of the time and have quite a few lines to learn. I practice learning them on my own and it's nice to know that, unlike the book, the musical leaves Smike with a happy ending."
Polly Theedom (14) from Oakham plays Master Belling. She said she had enjoyed previous Cottesmore Village Players' productions. Lindsay Jenkins (13) from Market Overton said she was joining her mother Barbara in the show. "Mum has been in lots of shows." she added.
Choreographer is Margaret Wolfe and accompanist is Nancy Simpson. Others taking part include Zoe Smith, Alan Lane, John Welby, Andy Terry, Sarah Whitehous, Sophie Wells, Helena Wells, Craig McLelland, Karen Neal, Holly Palmer-Davison, Victoria Simpson and Rachel Simpson.
Press Article - Rutland Times
Youngster's talents made an impressive night
Cottesmore Village Players in Smike, a pop musical by Roger Holman, Simon May and Clive Barnett at Market Overton Village Hall
This was a splendid show, remarkable for its brilliant blend of youth and maturity.
More than 25 local children responded to the CVP's original appeal for youngsters to play the parts of pupils. They had to be weeded down to 15 - but the quality of the impressive talent on show made one wonder about the attributes of those kids who didn't make it.
Because, make no mistake, this is a difficult opus to perform. The songs may be easy on the ear but they are deceptively devilish to perform.
Agile accompanist Nancy Simpson played a vital part in the success of this production which, incidentally, deserved to be watched by far more people. The valiant Nancy was seen to puff out her cheeks with exertion at the end of the first act, but she did a valiant job all through with a catchy score which leaps and soars and tests the vocal qualities of the young voice to the extreme limits.
The musical is based on Dickens' Nicholas Nickleby and was a brave choice by director Mike Lees. The opening scene was stark in both lighting and content, with the pupils lined up either side of the small stage which posed as a classroom at a modern school.
The arrangement was most effective - and Paul Laird was immediately impressive as the headteacher who was soon to be transformed into the villainous Wackford Squeers of Dotheboys Hall.
Mr Laird's performance was a tour de force. He also possessed a pleasant singing voice which was used to great effect in the duet called Youngsters' Interests At Heart (with the ever-reliable Alan Lane as Mr Snawley) and the hilarious quartet Wackford, Fanny, Squeersy and Me, which also featured the ebullient Celia Aldred, Greg Dalzell and the amazing Barbara Jenkins who produced a top C shriek not far short of Pavarotti's.
This was a great team effort, with a fine supporting cast which included Mr Lees as a bemused Nickleby (and his alta ego Mr Nicholls) and young Katy Aldred as the wretched Smike.
There was much chorus bustle and a nice line in swipes from Mrs Aldred - and the "hit" number, Dotheboys Rock, was frenetically performed by Lindsay Jenkins and the young cast. Again, not an easy song to sing.
This musical was originally written for a school to perform and it was, above all, great fun. The tunes flowed thick and fast and there was only one hitch. This involved a very long "black-out" before the action flashed forward from Dotheboys Hall to the present for the last scene - presumably because the youngsters had to change their ragged clothes in haste for the finale.
That apart, it was a most enjoyable evening. -BM
