Rushworth is not normally known for its lush under growth, jungle drums or wild animals wandering freely but last week a little piece of the Jungle came to Rushworth with the P-12 College Production. This year our performers and staff took on the challenge of presenting a theatre restaurant style production, Jungle Fever, and the response was overwhelming.
On Thursday night approximately 90 people shared a meal in St. Mary’s Hall and on the Friday about 105 people were served. Along with our diners, others came along to just watch, bringing our numbers up to over 250 people who attended the evening performances. This was an overwhelming response which none of the production staff would have predicted. Fortunately, the principal class and other staff, under the leadership of Margaret Hoelter, stepped into the breach and everyone was successfully fed. Without the help of Mrs Hoelter, Ms. Ezard, Mrs. Wallace, Mrs. Truran, Mrs. Cresswell, Mrs. Robertson and Mrs. Raglus the theatre restaurant concept may have fallen in a heap. Thanks also to the staff who made a pot of soup or pasta sauce and especially to Dot Heinjus who made a ton of delicious lasagne. The waiters and waitresses also did the College proud.
Many other members of the college community contributed too. A big thanks to the SSO staff who went above and beyond the call of duty once again. Thanks Julie Biddiscombe for the financial management and Christie Thomas and Kerrie Raglus for the table settings and programme. Brendan Young was invaluable as usual. Hayley Pokorsynski and her band of helpers made the jungle come alive with her excellent sets and props. The army camouflage netting made the stage look fantastic. Thanks to Ian Riley and the Army Museum for the generous loan. George did the heavy lifting with some help from the Year 10 boys and thank you to our College Council President for 16 hours of tidying up on the weekend.
Of course we need to thank the students who took care of the sound, lighting, props and video taping. Many of these students also helped produce the wonderful animations during their work experience week early this term. Other Multi Media students produced the terrific posters, tickets and table numbers. Well done! A special thanks to Tegan Donders who was assistant director this year. Tegan attended every rehearsal, was understudy to all and was our on stage prompt for every performance. Not an easy job, especially at the dress rehearsals where all the actors needed a little help.
This year we received wonderful support from our feeder schools who came along to provide us with an audience for our dress rehearsals. Thank you to the principals, staff and students from Stanhope, Nagambie and St. Mary’s. Extra thanks to St. Mary’s for allowing us to use their hall. It was a wonderful venue. We all know that the production only works because our students work so hard, in their own time, to put on the most professional performance possible. A massive congratulation to our wonderful dancers. I know that the whole College community was impressed by their efforts and Miss Nelson was as proud as could be. The actors have been working towards these performances since Term I and that showed. They delivered brilliantly and their ability to interact with the audience was just marvellous. All those lunch times were well worthwhile.
Finally, this was the last production for our Year 12 students, some of whom tread the boards for the first time as dancers in primary school. Congratulations to Danielle Toy, Nathan Lemin, Megan Tuohey, Kirsty Heinjus, Karen Coghill, David Bell, Brad Robinson, Meaghan Monroe and Alice Fraser for the wonderful contribution they have made to the production this year and in past years. We will miss you all but look forward to you coming back to help out in the future.
Posted by kerrieraglus 
Posted by Rushworth P-12 College 