The Watermill
Until July 10

AN uncommonly ripping evening of theatre is in store at The Watermill in a fresh, energetic production of Daisy Pulls It Off.

As soon as audience members enter the auditorium, they become part of the world of Grangewood School for Girls, as cast members dash across the stage, ruffle behind a curtain and whisper excitedly before the start of their “school play”.

So right from the start the production immerses its viewers and gives itself a licence to poke good-humoured fun at public schools and school plays, with creative touches like actors clutching picture frames around their faces to become portraits, or an actor wearing a lampshade to represent a lamp.

But there is, of course, nothing amateur about this production. The playful energy that comes across is thanks to careful choreography and excellent timing and acting by the faultless, nine-strong cast.

The play, directed by Denise Deegan, is set in 1927 and follows Daisy Meredith – wonderfully played by wide-eyed Emerald O’Hanrahan. She is the first scholarship girl to come to Grangewood School, where pupils are prone to outbursts in Latin and winning the hockey tournament is tantamount to winning a war.

Some snobby classmates are less than thrilled with Daisy’s arrival and the star pupil experiences adventure, mystery and seemingly insurmountable setbacks on her journey to acceptance as a Grangewood girl.

By the time Daisy Pulls It Off reaches its climax, the events become utterly over the top, but the audience has been won over long before and chuckles along to every “jubilate”.

The advantages of a five-week run in one venue are self-evident in Chloe Lamford’s impressive, wood-panelled set. It is turned into a common room, a sanatorium, a hockey pitch and even a cliff with clever use of props and excellent lighting, and some suspension of disbelief.

The packed auditorium on a school night is proof enough that The Watermill – and The Really Useful Group – has, again, pulled it off.