Scotch College

'Whistle Down The Wind'... ...a music and drama triumph

Readers of the last Great Scot will have seen the advertisement for this year's Senior Musical, Whistle Down The Wind.

First written as a novel by Mary Hayley Bell in 1958, it later became widely known as Richard Attenborough's classic film. starring Hayley Mills.

As a musical, however, it was first workshopped in 1992 by the National Youth Music Theatre in Britain. Probably because of the large number of children required in the cast, this show so highly acclaimed by Stephen Sondheim, still awaits its first fully professional debut.

The recent Scotch production in late July was the show's first production in Victoria and only the second to be staged in Australia.

The rehearsal process for the school plays will be familiar to many readers, and this production was no exception. Casting began in mid February and it took two weeks to complete the mandatory acting and singing auditions for the students from Scotch and St Catherine's.

Rehearsals were under way by the end of the long weekend and parts were finally allotted.

The musical score for this show is particularly difficult when compared with other shows attempted by schools. On some occasions, one finds the cast having to sing in three parts, with different words and with counterpoising rhythms. This certainly tested the ability of our singers who, along with Mr Ferguson, must have felt a little daunted at times!

Having auditioned in the heat of summer, we settled into the regular rehearsal process which preoccupied us well into the depths of winter.

Frantic Bump-in

All too quickly, we found ourselves making final preparations for the frantic 'bump-in' to the Stonnington Theatre. Our hardy backstage crew had by this time been long at work constructing a revolvable set comprising a series of interiors, a bridge and a lych-gate which had to move between scenes at no more than 20 seconds per move. Given the need to co-ordinate with the music, it was essential to achieve such ease of movement in order to provide the seamless change of scene that the show required.

The 'bump-in' was, as usual, well planned and efficient but, by its nature, it was equally time consuming and frantic! Boys in the set, lighting and sound crews worked with Mr Mustafa, Mr Ritchie, Mr Mason and Mr McWhinney from 8am until 11pm each day throughout the production week only to be interrupted by a presumptuous cast expecting to then occupy the space with their show!

By the end of the last dress rehearsal, however, each member of the company (which by now included the cast and orchestra!) felt a real sense of joint ownership for the show.

As if by magic, the months of effort were proving their worth for all to appreciate.

Each of the three performances was a tremendous success and demonstrated the daring level of innovative professionalism that has become a hallmark for the Scotch productions. For the students, it is a great privilege to be part of a company that can embark upon works as ambitious as Whistle Down The Wind. Not only does it offer the physical challenge to technical crews but it also sets challenges in the creation of role and character for the actors who must merge their talents with the musical orientation of the score. This musical version of the story contains a darker, more sinister overtone than existed in either the novel or the film. It manages to raise issues about the contradictions we all battle to contain deep within ourselves - about faith, humanity, honesty and truth.

All who went to see the show recognised the poignancy of this allegorical story and were enthralled by the skill demonstrated by the students, ranging from Years 7 to 12, as they revealed the story through drama and the often haunting music.

Mr Stephen Ritchie, Director