Community & Business
28 August, 2024
PSS musical Lost Paradise the “best yet”
The Pittsworth State School (PSS) held its biennial musical on Friday, bringing to life a tale of love, laughter, friendship, and determination in Lost Paradise: The Garden That Time Forgot.
“It’s the best [one] yet!” Beth Wheeldon (Director) said when asked about this year’s school musical - her 9th production at PSS.
Auditions for the musical were held at the end of term one, and rehearsals began in term two.
The Sentinel spoke with some of the lead characters who all agreed that the best thing about being a part of a musical is that it is fun.
Audiences were taken on a magical journey when a group of gardeners (Chloe Macintosh, Addison Clapham, Mitchell Fletcher, and Alex Greenwood) stumbled upon a forgotten garden, and its whimsical, wise gnome-like caretaker Mr Bloom (Romily Santsingh).
Deciding to breathe new life back into the forgotten garden so it’s bursting with colour, the group clears the weeds and plants seeds in the newly toiled earth.
“Never underestimate the power of a tiny seed,” Mr Bloom said.
Every tale isn’t without its trials and tribulations.
In this case, the gardeners were up against a mischievious group of troublemakers, and some sceptical, law-abiding council authorities.
The musical heavily resonated with last week’s Bullying No Way: National Action Week, and the theme that everyone belongs, and teamwork and determination can achieve amazing things.
“If there’s any setbacks you still work hard,” Ari Salgado (Year 6) said.
“It’s about team work and never backing down,” Alex Greenwood (Year 6) said.
Ari said one thing she loved about the musical was being on the stage, and watching the audiences’ reactions.
The creative sets were designed by Colleen Greenwood, who for the best part of 17 years, has been part of the PSS community.
Three students from Pittsworth State High School, Era Tecson, Madi Gersekowski, and Lacey McGarthy, choreographed the musical.
Alan Cheetham conducted Pittsworth’s community band Black Inc. which played a number of familiar tunes such as Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond, and Do You Want To Build A Snowman from Frozen.
The lyrics of the songs had been re-written, so they were relevant to the performance.
A number of other team members back stage, or in the sound, lighting, makeup, and costume department, all came together to make the performances a success, under the leadership of Mrs Wheeldon.
She has been writing and directing the school musicals for many years, and this is her second last production before her retirement.
The matinee performance on Friday was filled with students from Millmerran State School, Biddeston State School, Pittsworth State School, St. Stephen’s Primary School, and Mt. Tyson State School.
“Our gardeners, our neighbours, our trouble-makers, our councillors, back stage crew - well done to you all,” PSS Principal, Carol Ann Coonan said.
“It was a tough gig to play in front of your peers and students from other schools, to everyone who has travelled here today,
we do appreciate your attending our performance,” she said.
“This week is Bullying No Way: National Week of Action and you would have seen clearly in our musical the theme that ‘everyone belongs’.
“When we feel like we belong, bullying really struggles to find a place.
“We must embrace who we are, respect everyone’s differences, speak up, stop bullying, and stand together in kindness,” Principal Coonan said.
In appreciation for their attendance, each school received a packet of sunflower seeds.
“As Mr Bloom said, ‘May the seeds of kindness we’ve sown here in this garden, blossom into a future filled with harmony, laughter and endless possibilities’.”
