Let's get on with the show!

I had the pleasure of playing opposite Jim as Annie Oakley in Solihull School's production of Annie Get Your Gun. Obviously we got to know each other fairly well as we spent most lunch times and evenings after school, plus a few unscheduled outings to random subtle smoking venues to rehearse our demanding roles.

Rehearsals were always an absolute pleasure and a total riot and at times we completely forgot the point of why we were there and the seriousness of how we were supposed to be representing the school. The most daunting part of the whole production for me was the fact that not only was Jim to be the first person I'd kissed in front of my parents, (!!) but he also stood a foot taller than me. (I'm still seeing the chiropractor now..!)

This posed certain problems when we were instructed to look passioately into one another's eyes... The very first time we rehearsed the dreaded kiss scene was a lunch time which coincided with a V.I.P. visit from a typically overbearing suit from OxBridge, who was unwittingly ushered into Big School for a taste of real drama.

To add a bit of authenticity, Jim decided at no notice whatsoever that he was going to commit the actor's most unforgivable act of using his tongue during the kiss, in order to spice things up a bit... My shocked and automatic reaction being to slap him around the face as hard as I could! Mr. Snooty fron OxBridge obviously didn't know his Irving Berlin, as he burst into riotous applause thinking what fantastic actors we were and that the slap was all part of the plot.

Jim and I spent the next 20 minutes laughing and unfortunately we had to pack up for the day. Jim threatened to repeat the Ad Lib during the final performance on the friday night, but thankfully we'd all drank too much wine when it came down to it on the night and he must have forgotten. I just want to say that Jim was one of the very few true gentlemen in this world and I'm honoured to have been given the chance to see him shine in many ways.

God bless you Jim. This one's for you .... X Sophie Bakewell

Posted on behalf of Sophie Bakewell