Press
back to school
The Blurb- June 2003.
We have lots of American stories about the school prom - why haven't we have any about the Australian school formal? READ MORE....(link to The Blurb)
Sunday Telegraph- June 15, 2003 - Dianna Simmonds
Few folk who�ve survived high school don�t have horror stories to tell about the mean bitches and smart bastards- the tyrannosaurus rexes at the top of the teenage food chain- who've made life miserable for the hapless herbivores: the nerds.
     Some are scarred for life by the experience and only lavish applications of humour and revenge can salve the wounds. One survivor is Stephen Vagg, whose third play, Nerd Formal, is the
often hilarious and sharply observed result of the tragically cruel cancellation of his high school formal.
      Nerd Formal is a reworking of the rags to riches, mouse that roared idea, wherein the dweeby Athene Club�s members get their moment in the sun when the cool types- male and female- discover that while it�s smart to be razor sharp, you can end up cutting yourself, if you�re not careful.
     Nerd Formal is as rough as guts,
exceedingly good fun and well performed by it�s cast of recent graduates.
     The po-faced might not enjoy Nerd Formal but all in all,
if you don�t laugh a lot and shudder at the accurate portrayals of life�s little monsters, you�re a sad sack and that�s a fact.
above: Charlotte Gregg, Larissa Gallagher, Neil Phipps and Thom Campbell.
below: Nicole Scerensini and Ali Van Reeken
Sydney Live Magazine- Daily Telegraph, June 4 2003 - Chealsea Clark
'Remember revenge of the nerds- that early 80�s film starring ER�s Anthony Edwards as nerd Gilbert Lowell?
In Jeff Kanew�s 1984 film, the nerds employ high-tech warfare against the school�s jocks and cheerleaders. And in Aussie playwright Stephen Vagg�s newest work, Nerd Formal, the nerds find themselves in a similar position.
They�re locked in a battle with the cool kids to see who will control the most important night of the school year.
Vagg also wrote the successful Friday Night Drinks, which played at the TAP Gallery last year. In Nerd Formal he sets the stage for a battle of epic proportions when the school formal is banned.
The only formal school dinner happening is for the Athene Club, a group where students come together to discuss philosophy, politics and world events (aka the nerd society).
Nerdy Damon invites the beautiful Amber to the Athene Dinner, much to the annoyance of Damon�s fellow nerd Jacqui and soon all Amber�s cool friends want to come too.'
below: Neil Phipps and Thom Campbell
home
links
cast crew
Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

1