School set to stage its ‘Greatest Show’ musical
Following along the lines of The Greatest Showman, pupils have been working hard to perfect the performance they have envisioned.
RENOWN for its entirely pupil-produced musicals, Kingsway High School is set to entertain crowds this April when its talented team present the annual musical, this year’s titled ‘The Greatest Show’.
Following along the lines of The Greatest Showman, pupils have been working hard to perfect the performance they have envisioned.
KHS’ actor-singer and producer of this year’s musical, Asanda Mngadi shared the synopsis of the play.
“In the mid-19th century, PT Barnum and his troupe perform a show at the circus. In a flashback to Barnum’s childhood where he and his tailor father Philo work for the Hallett family, he becomes infatuated with their daughter Charity after making her laugh. Though Charity is being sent to finishing school, Barnum reassures her they will not be separated, eventually marrying and raising two daughters, Caroline and Helen, in New York City. They live a humble life. Though Charity is happy, Barnum craves more,” said.
After losing his job Barnum takes a large loan from the bank after deceiving the bank with his former employer’s title deed to lost ships at sea.
“He buys Barnum’s Museum Of Curiosities which is an absolute bust until his children tell him he needs ‘something alive, something sensational’. Barnum then seeks to find oddities for his museum which he later renames Burnum’s American Circus (this is the story of a man who invented the circus that toured the world from 1871 to 2017) which is an instant hit.
Throughout all of this, a love story brews between Anne Wheeler, a trapeze and gymnast, and Philip Carlyle, an American playwright and Barnum’s rich business partner, both are from very different backgrounds and find themselves conflicted due to society’s view of their relationship. Philip arranges for the troupe and Barnum to meet Queen Victoria.
This is when Barnum meets Swedish opera singer, Jenny Lind. He persuades her to arrange for an American tour, Barnum sees this as an opportunity for acceptance and wants to expand his appeal for the snobby elites. Barnum’s attention shifts from his circus oddities and his wife and children to Jenny Lind.
Jenny Lind falls for the visionary but Barnum shows no interest, which marks the end of their work relationship and they part. On his return home to his family, he finds his circus in flames caused by an angry mob that believed that ‘freaks’ have no place in society.
Philip is injured while trying to rescue Anne, Barnum’s circus is no more, Charity finds out about the alleged affair, Philip lies on his deathbed and beside him sits Anne. The oddities tell Barnum how they felt accepted in the circus and want their home back. With the help of Philip, Barnum draws a conclusion that he doesn’t need a building just a tent and a plot of land, inventing the modern day circus we know and love today.”
KHS’ talented Nathan Haylock plays Barnum, Sumaiya Cotwal as Charity, Wandile Mthembu is Philip Carlyle, Keely Crocker as Anne Wheeler, Nia Small is Jenny Lind and Aphiwe Masuku belts out ‘This is Me’ as Letty, The Bearded Lady.
A cinema-style seated show will take place on Tuesday, 9 April at R50 per person. From Wednesday, 10 April until Friday, 12 April supper theatre shows will take place at R70 per person, where you can take and enjoy your own picnic-basket snacks and drinks. Both supper theatre and cinema-style will start at 6.30pm.
Tickets must be brought in advance from the school. Those interested can either call in and pay via EFT or visit the school to book. Call the school on 031-903-2353/4.
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