The Wykehamist Up and Under
What’ s rugby?
Just as we returned from Leave-out, Kenny’ s took to the stage with their performance of Up and Under, a sport underdog story following an underestimated rugby team’ s journey to the near defeat of the best rugby team in their league – the Cobblers’.
Set in Kingston upon Hull, the story follows an inept pub team from the Wheatsheaf Arms pub in a rugby league sevens competition. Accompanied by a chorus made up of George Matli( 2024-), James Hoskin( 2023-), Patrick Chum( 2023-), and Eddie Wheeler( 2023-), the cast of Kenny’ s Up and Under made for a splendid production.
The production began( after a chilling opening from the chorus to set the scene) with ex-rugby professional Arthur( played by James Kennedy( 2021-) making a bet with Reg Welch, Jad Darkazally( 2021-), that he can train any team to beat Welch’ s Cobblers. However, the team he ends up with has him clutching for hope …
The‘ Wheatsheaf Arms’( our underdogs) can only procure a team of four, whose pride lies in their unbroken record of defeat rather than victory. This is where our four main actors take to the stage in the roles of Steve Edwards, Phil Hopley, Tony Burtoft and Frank Rowley. The pitiful arrangement of men was played excellently by the likes of William Hagger( 2021-), Arthur James-Duff( D, 2021-), Bertie Corbett( 2024-), and Deepak Singh( 2023-). The‘ Wheatsheaf Arms’ is the centre of the play’ s comedic brilliance, and this ensemble really stole the show when it came to their delivery of every one of their lines during the performance.
Despite the attention of the‘ Wheatsheaf Arms’ being first and foremost on the promise of beer after another defeat at that day’ s match, Arthur – having bet almost all his life savings to the team’ s success – still remains optimistic.
After Arthur takes the hopelessly unfit rugby players on a three mile run around their town, it becomes apparent that they are going to need assistance if they are ever to reach the standard of the Cobblers; this is where Arthur turns for help from Hazel, a fitness coach played by Annabelle Brunt( 2023-). Desperate to get the team to an acceptable degree of fitness, Arthur allows Hazel to train them for the next three weeks leading up to the big match.
The training montage that followed was an audience favourite, as the‘ Wheatsheaf Arms’ and Arthur trained on imaginary gym equipment for the big game.
Amongst its best moments is of course the final game itself.
The team, now including Hazel and Arthur, looked like nothing compared to the Cobblers’ might, as they remained an impenetrable wall along the upper stage for the entirety of their scene. Through snappy one-liners between the members of the‘ Wheatsheaf Arms’ players and the Cobblers( played by the majority of Kenny’ s top years), it made for a hilarious ending.
Inspiring, funny and full of energy, they certainly did justice to John Godber’ s Up and Under.
Poppy Clarke( H, 2024-)
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