Shirley Valentine
The fantastic 2011 Dio Arts fundraiser took place in the School Hall on Friday 26, Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 August with Nancy Schroder starring as Shirley Valentine.
Nancy had directed Sweet Charity earlier in the year and with her producer, Fred Aldler, agreed to perform for the Visual and Performing Arts fundraising event this year. Shirley Valentine was originally written by Willy Russell as a one character play, but many of us remember the wonderful film starring Pauline Collins whose boring life as a middle-aged housewife in Liverpool is forever changed after a holiday in Greece.
Nancy Schroder was Shirley Valentine, the tired-of-life housewife talking to the wall, cooking chips and eggs for her husband’s dinner - and the stove on stage actually worked!
She took us all on an amazing and completely believable journey from her kitchen to Greece and a new life; irreverent, funny, sad and happy. The incredible Dio Arts subcommittee, the Development Office, friends, family and students transformed the cafeteria into a Greek Taverna with an amazing painted backdrop behind the bar, wonderfully decorated tables and many Greek flags. Guests were treated to a welcome glass of wine or ouzo and the tables were laden with huge platters of Greek food. Plates of hot nibbles and individual fish dinners were served by girls dressed in costume.
Once again Mark Leishman and Jude Dobson acted as MCs and auctioneers. Many supporters of Dio Arts donated fabulous goods and prizes that were either raffled or auctioned. Our Principal, Heather McCrae, offered to cook a three course meal for two lucky guests. That proved to be a very popular auction item and raised $700
