When you go to a school musical I think it would be safe to say that you don’t take your seat expecting anything too outstanding. When it comes to the music you would be expecting some wrong notes. The occasional off notes in singing would be the norm. The acting at times may make you cringe. And the dancing, particularly in a boys’ school, is likely to be in desperate need some rhythm.

However, for those who were lucky enough to see the College’s production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat would have experienced nothing apart from sheer enjoyment. I have seen many high school musicals and I can say without any doubt at all that this was the best I have ever seen. In fact back in 1993 I remember being dragged to watch Tina Arena and David Dixon star in the broadway professional production at Her Majesty’s Theatre and I loved it. Therefore seeing it in an amateur production had the potential to ruin it for me. I can tell you that the Joeys version only made me enjoy it more.

One of the great things about the Joeys production was the involvement of boys from every year group. In Year 7 we were strongly represented with twelve of our boys being involved. In the chorus we had Tom Mutch (West Pennant Hills), Alastair Dunstan (Putney), Tarkan Gursel (Henley), Josh Agostino (Gladesville), Johnny Bechara (Abbotsford), Duncan Butler (Hunters Hill), Odysseas Stavrou (Hunters Hill), Richard Yen (East Ryde), Charlie Laundy (Strathfield), Luke Castaldi (Putney) and Eoin Walsh (North Ryde). In addition to this Liam Fogarty (Wahroonga) played violin in the pit (orchestra).

I was lucky enough to be close to the action and I can tell you that the professionalism of the boys involved was quite incredible. They were fully committed to their roles in the performance and I know that they also enjoyed themselves immensely. It was a massive commitment that started for them back in Term 1 and had them involved in many rehearsals during their own free time, including the holidays and Sundays. In the week of the performances they took part in the show each night from Sunday to Friday and two performances on Tuesday. This contribution is massive and each of these boys should be commended for their outstanding efforts.

Photo 1:  Tom Mutch (West Pennant Hills), Alastair Dunstan (Putney), Tarkan Gursel (Henley), Josh Agostino (Gladesville), Johnny Bechara (Abbotsford), Duncan Butler (Hunters Hill), Odysseas Stavrou (Hunters Hill), Richard Yen (East Ryde), Charlie Laundy (Strathfield) and Luke Castaldi (Putney). Note that Eoin Walsh (North Ryde) was absent on the day of the photo being taken.

Photo 2:  The cast of the College production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat during a final rehearsal.