A Greek Tragedy?
by Andrew Watson (with help from Anthony Adams)
blue = Andrew red = Anthony
In the Easter Holidays, the 6th Form Drama Groups spent a week in Greece learning all there is to know about the theatrical history of Greece. Having learnt everything about theatres, masks, history, tarot cards (all will be explained) early nights (?!?!?!?!?!) and bizarre happenings, I have decided to inform the school and myself, of what really happened - the truth, the (half) truth and nothing but (mostly) the truth……
Well, lets start at Day 1, or should I say 2 Days 1. Er… Never mind. We arrived at Heathrow Airport at 7pm on Sunday 7th April after a long day (for most of us). Having learnt that Mrs Davie had lost Anthony's ticket, we all - including Mr Morgan - heaved a sigh of relief when she found it. That could have been disastrous…..
(Life's a beach and you know it. The view from our hotel room)
The plane left at 11pm and nobody got much sleep. After 3 hours of sheer bliss (a creepy stewardess and a plane held together with sellotape, not to mention the neverending turbulence), we arrived at Athens Airport. After a short wait, we clambered onto the bus at 4am Greek time and most of us slept like logs - including our darling wizard Harry, who slept in the aisle. Nobody looked at me then. (What?!!) Even though we were told we would be on the coach for 5-6 hours, with one short break at the Coranth Canal, we arrived after 3 hours. Having not slept much all night, we clambered into bed after a short climb of the stairs. Immediately, the terrible twosome that is Anthony and Nael started arguing over who should have which bed. I spent five days with these guys. SHOCK #1. Did you know that in Greece there is not one but TWO channels dedicated to tarot card reading? Believe me, it's bad. I had to unplug the tv, much to the disgust of Anthony and Nael - who were transfixed by the sheer beauty of the Greek Mystic Meg…..
We spent a night out at the disco, Gorilla's, to celebrate Andy's birthday. The disco had a podium with a pole, much to the delight of Mr Morgan and certain members of Hallaton House - not mentioning any names: Tash, Gina, Emerald, Daisy, Angie, Hannah and Fran - and not forgetting all of the guys (including myself and Andy to 'You Can Leave Your Hat On') and Mrs Davie.
(A good reason to not let Anthony get hold of your camera. Left to right: Jack, Andy, Angie and Daisy at the Gorilla's disco. Can you even see anyone's face?)
Day 2. Mask making. We all had to make masks in a traditional Greek style - sticking envelope 'stick paper' (What?!!) all over our faces. But that's how they've done it for years. Having put all the stuff all over our faces, we had to wait for it to dry. Then came the painful part. We had to pull it off. The girls didn't take too light-heartedly to the idea - having lost half of their eyebrows - and the South Briton's own Miss Edwards tried to scream the hotel down; and succeeded.
Who'd have thought making masks could be so painful? Later that afternoon, we painted them (or attempted to paint them). One could say that the results were rather two-faced (ha ha ha! …someone shouldn't give up their day job). In addition to the noticeable facecracks and sarcastic wisecracks (no one in particular), we also rehearsed 'Tartuffe' on the beach. In the evening, we had our first go at Greek dancing - just remember: 1, 2, 3, left kick, right kick, 1, 2, 3, left kick, right kick, 1…
(The Epidavros)
Day 3. On Wednesday morning, we were really tired. So a bit of a massage seemed like it could do the job. Boy…we were wrong. Firstly, I couldn't find Anthony's backbone (not a good start). I thought the main selling point of a massage was to relax you and reduce the pain. Or maybe, people have just been doing it wrong all these years. In that (highly unlikely) case, Anthony was a real pro. In the afternoon, we took a trip to the Epidavros. The sheer scale of the theatre was amazing. For the experience, several members of the group decided to put on a show for the spectators; the highlight being Miles Windsor's uncut rendition of House of Pain's 'Jump Around'. You know the words.
(Martin getting 'jiggy' with Tash and a pole at Gorilla's)
Day 4. On Thursday, we were the living portrait of the sleep deprived but we still managed to do a workshop on Greek theatre. This was the hottest day of the year so far and therefore, the perfect day to do drama on the beach. In the morning, we were given the task to do a cabaret act in the evening. It could be anything from a piece of poetry to a song. Anthony, Nael and myself were stuck for ideas, with the only suggested idea, a conversational piece of drama, which was neither clever nor funny. Around 3 hours before we were due to perform, we came up with the idea of doing a rap, accompanied by "the hip-hop sound that is…the human beat box." (Yes, it's as weird as it sounds. *See the full lyrics below*) The evening was complemented by a poem, an award ceremony presented by the Lower Sixth girls, a hilarious piece of drama from Miles, Harry, Oli, Jack, Martin and Nick and some superb Greek mask acting from our tutor for the trip, John (thanks very much).
(The Acropolis)
On the last day, we were sad and many of us would have liked to have stayed there longer. En route to the airport, we stopped in Athens to visit the world famous Acropolis, which was worth the trip in it's own right. Several hours later, we left for the airport and departed for Heathrow. On the flight back, no one slept but that could have been to do with the two Greek men, who were in hysterics for at least an hour of the flight (which provided much amusement for Emerald and I).
(Left to Right: Daisy, Martin, Oli, Nael, Emerald, Angie and Andy)
All that's left to say is thankyou to Mrs Davie and Mr Morgan for putting up with us for a week. Oh, and for organising the trip in the first place. Cheers!!!!
(We arrive at Heathrow Airport. Harry looks ill, Martin looks embarrassed and Miles is recovering from Andy's sarcasm)
Along with all the education of the visit, we had a good laugh as well. There were many occasions, most of which can not be seen above, where we still laugh at the thought of them. Below are a few remarks from members of the group that had our sides splitting all week!
"I can't do my monologue. Not by myself." - Tiffany Perkins
"I'm clinically addicted to Diet Coke." - Nael Farargy
"Well, it is a Less Economically Developed Country." - Nael Farargy
"I have sand in every orifice." - Nael (again) after his first ever sand fight
"Will this tv work in England?" - Miles Windsor
"Well that was unexpected." Andrew Watson, upon the plane's arrival back in England
"I'm gonna kill you!" - Mr Morgan to Anthony Adams, countless times
"What are you guys doing in my…wait this isn't my room. (hasty embarrassed exit)" - Hannah Lepine…but was it an accident?
"I'm gonna kill you!" - Nael's reaction when Anthony broke the shower curtain
"What do you call a woman with one leg who stands against a wall? Eileen." - Andrew Watson, the world's most unfunny man trying to make Emerald laugh on the plane…and succeeding…for several minutes.
*THE GREECE RAP*
Written and performed by Anthony Adams (vocals), Andrew Watson (beat box) and Nael Farargy (?)
INTRO
Ladies and gentleman, you are currently listening
to the hip-hop sound that is, the human beat box.
VERSE 1
1st Night 2:00, 2nd Night 3:00, 3rd Night 4:00, 4th Night, who knows?
We started so early on morning,
Flying all night was really boring,
We went through the night with no sleep
And the stewardess was a real creep,
As soon as we thought the terror had parted,
We got on the coach and Harry farted.
VERSE 2
Come Tuesday morning, we were really tired,
But what we did next was really inspired,
The mask making was great for our Gina,
She screamed her head off, you should have seen her,
Greek dancing that night was the spotlight for Tash,
She got on the bar and gave her head a real bash.
VERSE 3
Wednesday was different to other days,
The massage we had put us all in the daze… OR NOT
Epidavros was the next place to go,
Where we all put on our little show.
(REMIX)
Jump around, Jump around
Jump up, Jump up and get down.
VERSE 4
Now it's today and here we are,
Greece was great, now we're off to the bar,
We hope you've enjoyed our little rap,
But honestly… it's crap.