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Daisy Pulls it Off, Churchill Productions, Tivoli Theatre, Wimborne

IF you didn’t see this absolutely spiffing production then you really need to write ‘I must go to the theatre more often’ 100 times – with no ink blots please.

It’s all a glorious spoof of the Angela Brazil/Elinor Brent-Dyer type schoolgirl novels,  and is set around a play put on by the fourth form at Grangewood School For Girls, circa 1930, which is in turn about elementary school pupil Daisy Merideth, the first ever scholarship girl at Grangewood. Her honesty and true grit help her overcome adversity and go on to become the most popular girl in the school – via jolly exciting things like a cliff rescue and some hidden treasure.

The innovative touches of superstar director Pete Talman are everywhere, from the highly original school library and headmistress’ filing cabinet to a hockey tournament. And those girls! Well, I use the word ‘girls’ loosely, as none is quite in the first flush of youth – but that’s all part of the fun.
  
Daisy (Margo Stephens), Trixie (Jan Wyld), Clare (Sammy Boyle) Alice (Jan Farrington), Sybil (Jenny Munford) and Monica (Tracy Nichols) are perfectly splendid, ripping schoolgirls and among the excellent supporting cast there is a memorable performance from Andy Oldfield (teacher Mr Scobowski).

Oh jubilate.

Linda Kirkman

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