The Worshipful Company of Paviors is a supporter of the City of London’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Each year, the final-year students of the School put on a Gala Concert to raise money for its activities, and members of the Paviors Company have always attended this event. This year’s Gala Concert was on Tuesday 11 July and was performed in the Silk Street Theatre at the Guildhall School.
The Paviors’ Luncheon Club had organized for 22 of its members and their partners to attend the concert at the School’s premises in the Barbican Centre in the City. The evening started with a drinks reception in the Conservatory Terrace followed by a dinner of Gressingham Duck Leg in the Garden Room. Participants were addressed by the School’s new Principal, Lynne Williams, who emphasized the fund-raising nature of the event and drew attention to the donation envelopes besides everyone’s place-settings! Everyone then moved into the theatre to be entertained by the students performing the musical comedy ‘Crazy For You’, written by George and Ira Gershwin and first performed on Broadway in 1992.
The story follows the fortunes of an aspiring singer and dancer, Bobby Child (played by Luke Thallon), as the action moves between New York and the unlikely setting of Blackrock Nevada – where he meets and falls in love with Polly Baker (played by Lucie Fletcher). The story moves at a fast pace with much colour and humour. The show is a musical feast, featuring several well-known Gershwin songs, including ‘They Can’t Take That Away From Me’, ‘Nice Work If You Can Get It’ and ‘I Got Rhythm’. The acting and production were, as usual, of a very high standard and highlighted the abundance of talent produced by the School. The evening provided wonderful entertainment for those Paviors who attended.