Oklahoma!

The first Wednesday of the Easter holidays and the ES Office was still, as always, hard at work with a long-planned visit to Wyndham's Theatre to experience the 'punchy, playful and sexy' (Daily Telegraph's chief theatre crtitic) Oklahoma! And it was certainly an experience for the 22 ES members gathered that afternoon.

The group was a true mix of what the ES is all about: bringing together, with their partners, former pupils, families of current and former pupils, College staff past and present, and other friends. Luminaries among us were Pip Kirtley (daughter of Donald Perrens, College staff (including headmaster) 1946-81), Nigel Wheeler (College staff 1976-2006), and Tishy Nugee (daughter of College headmaster (1938-56) John Nugee) along with other distinguished members. (And OE Mark LeBrocq happened to be passing the theatre on his way from a Covent Garden audition.)

And the verdict? The consensus was that it was an experience though JT, who organised it, wasn't sure what the plot was, why we were plunged into darkness a few times, and couldn't remember anyone being shot the last time he saw it. But perhaps he didn't grasp the more nuanced parts of the production which the critic went on to describe as 'an absolute knockout'.

Never daunted, we are now looking forward to the next theatre event on 15 June: 42nd Street. Though there are few if any tickets left for this, we still have some available for Crazy for You on 13 September.