from Singin ’ in the Rain , as Anar Shah stepped effortlessly into Gene Kelly ’ s dancing shoes .
One of the musical highlights for me was the performance of Rachmaninov ’ s Piano Concerto no 2 in C minor . With the 1945 film Brief Encounter flickering on screen in the background , the Symphony Orchestra accompanied the chance meeting at the station between the protagonists Laura and Alec , played by Ana Deeley and Felix Allan . Ian Chan ’ s incredible performance on piano kept us all mesmerised throughout . Mr Potts then conducted a magical performance of the ‘ Flying Theme ’ from E . T . and the audience was treated on stage to the well-known Halloween scene , with Grace Goodwin as E . T . disguised as a ghost in a white sheet , and me as Michael , trying to keep E . T . out of sight .
Suddenly it was the 1960s and the tempo increased with Chuck Berry , an electric guitar and energetic dancing in a fabulous scene from Pulp Fiction re-enacted by Ana Deeley and Andrei Golovanov . The action was seamlessly followed by the Big Band ’ s ‘ The Pink Panther Theme ’ and a comedy sketch from the film led by Monty Thompson , which left the audience in stitches .
And finally , as the lights dimmed , the stage was transformed into a James Bond medley of famous scenes and musical themes . The iconic Bond film score was bashed out brilliantly by the Big Band with Miss Homewood sneaking in to play M , and a very cool Ejas Deane as Mr Bond . The Live and Let Die soundtrack rounded off an extraordinary collaboration of performers , conductors , choreographers , stage and technical crew , all under the superb direction of Mrs Hargreaves .
Annabel Nuijens , Year 9
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