• Review For Us
    • In London or across the UK
    • at Edinburgh Fringe
  • List Your Show
  • Advertising
  • Musicals
  • Plays
  • Ballet & Dance
  • Previews
  • First Look
Theatre Weekly
  • Home
  • News
    • West End
    • Off-West End
    • Regional & Tours
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Digital Theatre
  • Tickets
    • Discounts
    • Musicals
    • Plays
    • Opera
    • Dance
    • Concerts
  • Edinburgh Fringe 2025
    • Edinburgh Fringe News
    • Edinburgh Fringe Previews
    • Edinburgh Fringe Interviews
  • Contact Us
    • Join us as a Reviewer
No Result
View All Result
Theatre Weekly
  • Home
  • News
    • West End
    • Off-West End
    • Regional & Tours
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Digital Theatre
  • Tickets
    • Discounts
    • Musicals
    • Plays
    • Opera
    • Dance
    • Concerts
  • Edinburgh Fringe 2025
    • Edinburgh Fringe News
    • Edinburgh Fringe Previews
    • Edinburgh Fringe Interviews
  • Contact Us
    • Join us as a Reviewer
No Result
View All Result
Theatre Weekly
No Result
View All Result
Home Reviews

Review: Daisy Pulls It Off at Charing Cross Theatre

by Elizaveta Kolesnikova
June 21, 2018
Reading Time: 3 mins read
The Company of Daisy Pulls It Off c. Robert Workman

The Company of Daisy Pulls It Off c. Robert Workman

You mightalso like

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON. Clare Foster (Elowen Keene) and John Dagleish (Benjamin Button). Photo Marc Brenner

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Announces Final West End Extension at Ambassadors Theatre

Cast of The Daughter of Time Image supplied by publicist

The Daughter of Time Announces Full Cast Ahead of World Premiere at Charing Cross Theatre

Four Star Review from Theatre WeeklyBeloved by generations comedy Daisy Pulls It Off, written 35 years ago by Denise Deegan, almost never leaves London stages and this June comes to Charing Cross Theatre in Guildford School of Acting’s production. Delivered to West End audiences by the first-ever graduates of BA Actor-Musicians, the classic play gets a few unique twists in their interpretation. So, each actor plays a musical instrument from piano and violin to cello and trumpet. Even more, they dance and act with these instruments, making music intervals part of the performance. And it’s not all surprises this production has to offer.

The plot of Daisy Pull It Off is balancing somewhere between Sput, the series of novels by John van de Ruit about boys-only prestigious school in RSA, and the popular teen comedy Wild Child (2008), depicting a rich American girl sent to private girls-only school in the UK as a punishment. In the play, Daisy Meredith, a talented student from a poor background, gets the scholarship to study at a prestigious school, full of wealthy and spoilt girls. She has to find the ways to get along with them, win their trust and make her dreams come true, not missing her only chance for proper education and future success. While all plot turns are quite predictable and you will have a feeling that you’ve already seen it somewhere else, it’s enjoyable and easy-going production. Secret society, mysterious treasure, school pranks, sports games, mischievous classmates, – all these twists don’t let you get tired.

Each girl in the school, and each teacher have clearly defined temper and we get it as soon as they appear on the stage: partly because they step out of the role and comment on their character in the third person but also because they seem to know their characters well and feel confident in how they should behave in any situation. It becomes obvious a few minutes before the show when actors walk along the rows, chat with the guests and each other, playfully offering you some candies or trying a new melody in small groups. The performances of Katy Ellis (Trixie), Lara Lewis (Clare) and Gemma Evans (Monica) were especially impressive, I felt that those are not just types of the girls you expect to meet in any school but rather individuals, each with their own worries and ambitions. Daisy, played by Marina Papadopoulos, seems to be a bit too caricature and generic, however, it does not make her performance less vivid and enjoyable.

       

Daisy Pull It Off at Charing Cross Theatre is perfect for the whole family, but be cautious, nostalgia for your school years may overtake you. The conclusions of the play may feel too naïve, the social comments – too simplistic, and the psychology of the characters – too superficial, but this production still makes you laugh and brings great musician-actors performances. What else would you expect from a classic comedy production?

Elizaveta Kolesnikova

Elizaveta Kolesnikova

Elizaveta is a journalist by education and marketer at the present moment, she practices ballet in the weekends and reads classic plays in the evenings. Elizaveta has been in love with the theatre for years and is always happy to recommend some interesting, original, and undiscovered theatrical gems.

Related Articles

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON. Clare Foster (Elowen Keene) and John Dagleish (Benjamin Button). Photo Marc Brenner
News

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Announces Final West End Extension at Ambassadors Theatre

Cast of The Daughter of Time Image supplied by publicist
News

The Daughter of Time Announces Full Cast Ahead of World Premiere at Charing Cross Theatre

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON. Clare Foster (Elowen Keene) and John Dagleish (Benjamin Button). Photo Marc Brenner
News

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Launches ‘Curious Corner’ for Solo Theatregoers and New Loyalty Card Scheme

The Daughter of Time image provided by publicist
News

The Daughter of Time to Make World Premiere at Charing Cross Theatre This Summer

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Twitter Facebook Youtube Instagram

At Theatre Weekly we give theatre a new audience. You'll find our theatre news, theatre reviews and theatre interviews are written from an audience point of view. Our great value London theatre tickets will get you the best deal for your theatre tickets.
Theatre Weekly, 124 City Road, London EC1V 2NX
  • Join Our Community
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact Us
  • Advertising

Recent News

Spin A Play (Credit Lynsey Nicol)

Spin-a-Play Brings Improvised Chaos to Camden Fringe 2025

The sound of Music Cast Image supplied by publicist

The Sound of Music Full Cast Announced for Curve’s 2025 Christmas Production

© 2022 Theatre Weekly

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Tickets
  • Digital Theatre
  • News
    • News
    • West End
    • Off West End
    • Regional & Tours
    • Digital
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
  • Edinburgh Fringe 2025
    • Edinburgh Fringe News
    • Edinburgh Fringe Previews
    • Edinburgh Fringe Interviews
  • Contact Us
    • Join us as a Reviewer

© 2022 Theatre Weekly