Daisy Pulls It Off
Encyclopedia
Daisy Pulls It Off is a comedy
play
by Denise Deegan
. It is a parody
of wholesome adventure stories about life in a 1920s girls' English boarding school, such as those by Angela Brazil
. The original production of the play opened at the Nuffield Theatre
in 1983 and ran for 1,180 performances.
As in the series of St Trinians
films, the schoolgirls are played by older actresses, and the headmistress frequently is played by a man.
at the Gielgud Theatre
(then known as the Globe) from April 1983 to February 1986, produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber
and directed by David Gilmore. It ran for 1,180 performances and then toured for two years. Alexandra Mathie starred as Daisy. The play launched the careers of Kate Buffery
, Lia Williams
, Gabrielle Glaister
and Samantha Bond.
The production won an Olivier Award and the Drama Theatre Award for Best Comedy. Kate Buffery was nominated for an Olivier as Best Supporting Actress.
A 2002 revival at the Lyric Theatre
was also directed by Gilmore and produced by Lloyd Webber. There was also a 2008 UK tour.
The family-friendly piece is a popular choice for school productions.
The very first American production of this play was staged at Woodland Hills High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1992. It was directed by John Lloyd and starred Caryn Mehalik, Shelby Schnieder, Craig Gyergyo, Lesley Dave, Gretchen Cleevely, Chris Burkett and Chris DeMarco.
A revived London production ran at the Arts Theatre
in the West End from 19 January - 6 February 2010. It was directed by Nadine Hanwell.
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
play
Play (theatre)
A play is a form of literature written by a playwright, usually consisting of scripted dialogue between characters, intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. There are rare dramatists, notably George Bernard Shaw, who have had little preference whether their plays were performed...
by Denise Deegan
Denise Deegan
Denise Deegan is an English novelist and playwright. She was born in London, England, where she trained in stage management at East 15 Acting School...
. It is a parody
Parody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
of wholesome adventure stories about life in a 1920s girls' English boarding school, such as those by Angela Brazil
Angela Brazil
Angela Brazil was one of the first British writers of "modern schoolgirls' stories", written from the characters' point of view and intended primarily as entertainment rather than moral instruction. In the first half of the twentieth century she published nearly 50 books of girls' fiction, the...
. The original production of the play opened at the Nuffield Theatre
Nuffield Theatre
Nuffield Theatre may refer to:* The Nuffield Theatre at the Lancaster University* The Nuffield Theatre at the University of Southampton...
in 1983 and ran for 1,180 performances.
Synopsis
Energetic Daisy Meredith, a girl from a poor background, is forced to face and overcome snobbish prejudice and schoolgirl pranks from the wealthier girls. She and her best friend, zany Trixie Martin, search for the missing treasure that could save the fortunes of the exclusive Grangewood School for Young Ladies. Along the way, Daisy overcomes false accusations, saves the lives of her nemeses and discovers that the mysterious stranger seen around the grounds is her long-lost father.As in the series of St Trinians
St Trinian's School
St Trinian's is a fictional girls' boarding school, the creation of English cartoonist Ronald Searle, that later became the subject of a popular series of comedy films....
films, the schoolgirls are played by older actresses, and the headmistress frequently is played by a man.
Productions
After tryouts at the Nuffield Theatre in Southampton in 1983, the play was staged in the West EndWest End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
at the Gielgud Theatre
Gielgud Theatre
The Gielgud Theatre is a West End theatre, located on Shaftesbury Avenue in the City of Westminster, London, at the corner of Rupert Street. The house currently has 889 seats on three levels.-History:...
(then known as the Globe) from April 1983 to February 1986, produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber is an English composer of musical theatre.Lloyd Webber has achieved great popular success in musical theatre. Several of his musicals have run for more than a decade both in the West End and on Broadway. He has composed 13 musicals, a song cycle, a set of...
and directed by David Gilmore. It ran for 1,180 performances and then toured for two years. Alexandra Mathie starred as Daisy. The play launched the careers of Kate Buffery
Kate Buffery
Katharine Buffery is an English actress/writer, known as Kate Buffery.Buffery is possibly best known for her role in the British TV drama Wish Me Luck, as Liz Grainger and as DI North in Trial and Retribution...
, Lia Williams
Lia Williams
Lia Williams is an English actress and film director, notable for many stage, film, and television appearances. She is possibly best known for her role in the motion picture, Dirty Weekend...
, Gabrielle Glaister
Gabrielle Glaister
Gabrielle Glaister is an English actress.-Early life:She was a school friend of Ben Elton at Godalming Grammar School on Tuesley Lane in Godalming, Surrey; Glaister was in the year below Elton...
and Samantha Bond.
The production won an Olivier Award and the Drama Theatre Award for Best Comedy. Kate Buffery was nominated for an Olivier as Best Supporting Actress.
A 2002 revival at the Lyric Theatre
Lyric Theatre (London)
The Lyric Theatre is a West End theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue in the City of Westminster.Designed by architect C. J. Phipps, it was built by producer Henry Leslie with profits from the Alfred Cellier and B. C. Stephenson hit, Dorothy, which he transferred from the Prince of Wales Theatre to open...
was also directed by Gilmore and produced by Lloyd Webber. There was also a 2008 UK tour.
The family-friendly piece is a popular choice for school productions.
The very first American production of this play was staged at Woodland Hills High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1992. It was directed by John Lloyd and starred Caryn Mehalik, Shelby Schnieder, Craig Gyergyo, Lesley Dave, Gretchen Cleevely, Chris Burkett and Chris DeMarco.
A revived London production ran at the Arts Theatre
Arts Theatre
The Arts Theatre is a theatre in Great Newport Street, in Westminster, Central London. It now operates as the West End's smallest commercial receiving house.-History:...
in the West End from 19 January - 6 February 2010. It was directed by Nadine Hanwell.