Thursday 30 June and Friday 1 July saw performances of the College's opera project, this year George and Ira Gershwin’s comic masterpiece ‘Crazy For You’.  A Broadway classic featuring an opera buffa plot of love, betrayal, slap-stick and mistaken identity, Crazy For You is essentially a greatest hits compilation of the collaborative works of George and Ira Gershwin.  Sold-out on both nights, the Prospect Theatre played host to two momentous evenings of comedy and supreme musicianship that will live long in the memory.  A cast of 24 first and second year students amazed and inspired with the professionalism of their performances in a production full of complex choruses, dance numbers and Gershwin’s very finest songs.

Speaking after the final performance following a long standing ovation for the cast, Harry White, Curriculum Manager for Musical Performance said, "We have become used to awe-inspiring performances by students here at Farnborough, but tonight was truly extraordinary, even by the standards of this Music Department.  I was truly moved by the commitment, humour and musicianship of all involved.  Every single student brought something unique and valuable to the project, and the standard at the end had to be seen to be believed."

Peter Eyre, College Governor said, "Wow - what an evening.  I can safely say that was one of the most entertaining performances I've ever seen in the Prospect Theatre, and the audience clearly thought so too!  So many talented performers and such a well-made production, we were totally blown away by it and it will live long in the memory."

Matt Sheppard, Director of Faculty concurred, saying, "Crazy for You was a joyous and wonderfully uplifting breeze through George and Ira Gershwin's timeless classic, performed with verve and vigour by the students of the Music department.  Classics such as 'I Got Rhythm' , 'Shall We Dance' & 'They Can't Take That Away From Me' were delivered with perfect tone and pace by this super talented cast who seemed to find instinctively the energy and sheer 'joie de vivre' so needed in Gershwin's work.  The tight harmonies, characterisation, choreography and humour were skills these young students clearly had in abundance leaving the packed audience breathless for more and fully appreciative of a memorable night's entertainment it being such an antidote to the machinations of Brexit and woes of the English football team." 

Speaking after Friday night, Simon Reigh, Assistant Principal said, "I haven't laughed so much in a long time - so much that it actually made me cry!  Beautifully choreographed, fabulous comic timing, wonderful singing intelligently directed, contemporary political references... I could go on.  Well done to you all for producing such a wonderful evening."