What the Dickens is going on at the Snowy Mountains Grammar School?

    Not exactly Charles Dickens but a musical inspired by one of his well-loved novels, ‘Nicholas Nickleby’.

    ‘Smike’ the musical, takes its title from the tragic figure Smike in the original Dickens masterpiece.

    Nineteenth century schools in England were not noted for being ideal places of learning and ‘Dotheboys Hall’, run by tyrannical headmaster Wackford Squeers, (the name says it all) was no exception.

   Tim Wiles is playing Wackford Squeers and reckons he’s ‘glad he’s not his own pupil’. Funnily enough Tim’s character is being directed by Andrew Rostron. Andrew is the real headmaster at the Snowy Mountains Grammar School and I couldn’t resist asking him if he was drawing on personal experience to guide Tim through his part.

    ‘I wish’, he chuckled, ‘Wackford got away with blue murder!’

    The original script by Roger Holman, Simon May and Clive Barnett also got away with blue murder.

    Innuendo abounds.

        Although in this production it has been cleaned up somewhat to protect the innocent.

    These days nobody uses pen and ink in schools so I guess connotations regarding whether Fanny preferred soft or hard nibs would go unnoticed by a modern audience anyway.

   Even though the script has been cleaned up to protect the innocent it still promises to be a night to remember.

Head music teacher Lynne Compton will certainly remember ‘Smike’.

    She has put countless hours into it preparing the music not only for the soloists and chorus but also the small orchestra.

Twelve songs had to be transposed down so they were easier to sing.

    She told me each song took around three hours to transpose and that was before the rehearsals even began.

    With a story to die for and a variety of musical styles ranging from ballads, music hall, reggae and rock ‘Smike’ promises to be a great nights entertainment.

    See you there.

Where: Snowy Mountains Grammar School.

When: 19, 20, and 21 June.

Time: 7.00pm.

Cost: Gold coin donation.

Tickets: Available at the door.

Enquiries: Telephone 6457 1022.