FOR their end of term performance the year six pupils a The Gateway School in Missenden presented this very popular musical.

Set in the USA in the 20s at the time of gangsters and molls the youngsters embraced the theme with ease and enthusiasm.

The costumes were amazing, especially the gangsters who really looked the part and had a whale of a time with the splurge guns and custard pies as weapons.

The girls dressed in their flapper finery demonstrated the ebullience of the era with style.

This was a large production with everyone taking part and a final performance for all those leaving and going on to other schools, so as well as much laughter throughout it was also tinged with sadness and I am sure the teachers will be sorry to lose such a large amount of talent.

Everyone threw themselves into their parts and whenever on stage kept in character throughout, something I have often not seen done so well by adults.

With such a large cast it would be unfair to name just a few; Fat Sam was played on the two nights by a different boy and the one we saw was confident and well assured as was the young man who played Bugsy.

The two leading ladies were brilliant- even when their mikes played up they carried on like professionals without turning a hair.

It was superbly directed by Wendy O’Hare with Rebecca Izard as MD and on sound, producing some exciting work.

The large song and dance routine at Fat Sam’s was a show stopper- well choreographed and performed with enthusiasm and gusto by the whole cast.

This is the third year I have been invited to review the school production, and each year seems to get better.

I am not sure how they will follow this year’s outstanding show but I look forward to being invited back.

Well done, all involved it was a great evening’s entertainment and judging by the audience reaction they wholeheartedly agreed.