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Moberly’s House Play 2008

“Into the Valleys”

Moberly’s are now legendary for their comic insights into every day life, whether that be at Clifton or more generally. Having produced a sparkling comedy last year, the boys themselves had a lot to live up to and all I can say is that not one of them was found lacking. “Into the Valleys”, directed by William Hanson, starring Doug Wilman and written by them both, was a triumph as the house managed to entertain, amuse and perhaps shock while still maintaining an important moral message; popularity, appearance and stature are irrelevancies if one is not content with oneself.

What immediately struck me, while glancing at the programme and listening to the jaunty strains of Kylie Minogue’s “Wow!” while waiting for the play to begin, was the sheer number of Moberly’s boys involved in the production, both in front of and behind the curtain. The house spirit felt by the boys certainly translated onto the stage and was infectious for the audience. The play itself was uplifting, honest and surprisingly poignant. While many of the boys undoubtedly had little acting experience, the feeling of unity throughout was heart-warming and undoubtedly embodies the meaning of the house drama festival.

Individuals must also be mentioned in this review as while the production was indeed a team effort, certain people stood out instantly for their incredible talents; whether that be acting, singing or being backing dancers in the case of some of the 5th Form. James Hanson was incredible in his portrayal of “The Grandmother” and while the character could so easily have been one-dimensional and flat, he brought warmth and integrity to her and the play as a whole. The talent-gene must run in the Hanson family as William was also superb as Mr Forbes; his dead-pan delivery of some of the funniest lines in the play was astonishing and while the audience attempted to keep from swallowing their own tonsils, he maintained a smug air of boredom throughout. Adam Fielder must also be mentioned for his contribution to the play as one of the strengths of the production as a whole was the musical input and he certainly had a hand in this. Jon Gillon’s impression of Mr O’Sullivan was flawless and one of the most enjoyable parts of the play, not only because Jon was so amazing but also because Mr O’Sullivan happened to be sitting across the aisle from me and he seemed vaguely embarrassed to put it mildly.

How can I even attempt to write about this play without mentioning Doug Wilman who not only assumed the role of the main character, but also wrote the play and was its musical director. His dedication and commitment to the play itself must have been huge and the hard work he evidently put in was plain for all to see. William Hanson must have also contributed massively and all I can say is that their efforts paid off and we were rewarded with a gem.

Technical aspects of the play were also almost perfect although my one small criticism would be that the music used for scene transitions was sometimes unnecessarily long as though it were being played for the sake of it; a relatively minor point when we consider that every sound and lighting cue was exactly right and there were no embarrassing pauses or moments except perhaps when Geraint Philips accidentally walked onto the stage early!

“Into the Valleys” was a truly outstanding production which was enjoyed hugely by everyone. Congratulations to all involved as this was a wonderful conclusion to the house drama festival 2008 and will undoubtedly continue the legend that Moberly’s has created over the past few years. Well done to all.

Review by Jane Barnfield

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