January 2000 - Region 1 - John E. Flay
WEST SIDE STORY
East Cheshires Musical Theatre Company
Director: Nita Bennett
Musical Director: Andrew White
Dance Director: Sharn Whittaker
Fight Director: Rennie Krupinski
This is a retelling of Romeo and Juliet with the Montagues and the Capulets whose rivalry is now mirrored in the Jets and Sharks. Bernstein's West. Side Story is a marriage of drama and music, one of the jewels in the crown of musical theatre. Critic John Martin said that, the theatrical substance of the play was "not in talked plot but in moving bodies" and the same applied to this production. Excellent casting with Tony played by John Wright. His powerful singing did much to enhance his performance. Sian Owen as Maria rose strongly to the occasion making the most of the role. There were excellent performances from Peter Birch as Bernado, John Meachen as Action and Samantha Bates as Anita who showed considerable flair. Welcome light relief came from Peter Bowler as Glad Hand who turned in a detailed character. Sterling support, in a multiplicity of other characters came from the rest of the cast who could all dance. Credit must go to the creative sequences. These were highly realistic and the perfectly crafted choreography was exciting and captivating to watch. All came to the fore in the "America", "Cool" and the "Gee, Officer Krupke" numbers. The director brought the characters to life while the MD delivered a thoughtful account of the score weaving a rich tapestry of instrumental sound. All this added up to a very memorable evening.
THE WIZ
Salford AODS Youth Group Modern Generation
Director Jeanne Hooley
Musical Director Karen Garrattley
Dance Director Kath Gorton
The Wiz does not. have the same wonder - so essential to the show - as in The Wizard of Oz. A simplistic set helped focus all the senses. There was consistently strong performances from Daniel Lucas as the Lion, Dorothy played by Kathryn Grant and completing the line up was Matthew Judd, Tinman and Tom Pugh as the Scarecrow: they all made the most of their characters. The rest of the cast. gained in self-assurance throughout the production. Tremendous energy was put into the musical numbers and a special mention for the excellent keyboard playing. I thought the choreography could, maybe, have been a little more inventive. The proud family members in the auditorium obviously enjoyed the production, and I enjoyed being with the cast after the performance presenting service awards.
ANDY CAPP
Prestwich AODS
If you are looking for an evening of melodic tunes from this musical then you may be a little disappointed since, although the music matches the genre of the show, it is hardly memorable. If however the society casts the show as well, and it is acted as well as with this society, then you are in for an excellent, and hilarious, evenings entertainment. The intimate nature of PADOS House lent itself to this production drawing the audience into the life and times of the work-shy, beer swilling Lothario Andy Capp and his equally disreputable friends. John Nolan played Geordie the observer, narrator and link~man. A little light vocally but developed a good rapport with the audience and displayed a deft touch at the fake piano managing to mimic the splendid efforts of Musical Directors Mike Jaimes and Dave Beddington. The dramatic side of the company was much in evidence with Director Lynda Burton giving all the cast members individual characters whilst Choreographer Helen Halstead moved the cast quite well in the restricted space. The individual characters were well defined whilst the "couples' were nicely balanced and fitted well into the overall effect. Accents were a little mixed some having the authentic Geordie accent whilst others employed a general all purpose Northern one. Whatever the accent the dialogue moved along at a frantic pace which contrasted well with the slow and deliberate delivery of the unlikely character of Elvis which was well played by Dominic Annable. He was well matched with the long legged, doe eyed Raquel Scrimmet, played by Sue Astbury, who sang particularly well.
Company numbers were generally well executed. I particularly liked the inebriated "Good
Old Legs" number by the men which could so easily be taken over the top. The
other main characters of Mr Scrimmet (Neil Coe), Mrs Scrimmet (Jenni Lomax),
Chalkie (Ian Howarth). Ruby (Sheila Ward) and Flo (Diane Manship), the long
suffering spouse of Andy, were all played to perfection. Much depends of course
on the central character of Andy Capp. Here Keith Lomax seemed to have peeled
every nuance of the character directly from the pages of the Daily Mirror.
An excellent performance. A thoroughly enjoyable evening's entertainment and
my thanks to the society for the hospitality extended to Denise and myself.
Glyn
Neary
STEEL MAGNOLIAS
Prestwich ADOS
Director: John Flay
This is the first time I have had the pleasure of seeing a production at this
unique venue. When the stage is the same size as the auditorium you could say
it is taking the term "little theatre" a bit too far. But the only criticism
of the size of the theatre is that it was a pity that only approximately 60
people were able to see what was a splendid play. A play with great attention
to detail. The set was very realistic even to having running water on tap .
To help to decorate the set and to see facial expressions there were two large
mirrors down stage left and right - a nice touch. This play has an all woman
cast of six, and all six have to be strong to carry the play. And they were!
Ouiser played by Jenni Lomax, the rough diamond of the cast, was spot on as
was Jane Murphy who played M'Lynn the mother who has a child with kidney failure.
The scene between mother and daughter was very touching. Clairee played by
Carole Bernstein, the richest member of the set, grew in confidence as the
play progressed. Although this cast did perform as a team we had three performances
that deserve particular mention. Truvy, a marathon performance and handled
so well by Elizabeth Evans; Clairee the daughter who dies, a tender handling
of a part in which we must, as an audience, care what happens to her for the
last scene to work. I leave the best until last. For me the lovely tender portrayal,
the handling of the changes in the character as it progresses through the changes
of the years was superbly done by Jane Hoolachan whose Annelle rounds up the
cast of an excellent night's entertainment. It's only a pity more did not .
Ladies, thank you.
(Colin Magenty)
THE KING AND I
South Manchester AOS
Director Adele Lawson
Musical Director Elizabeth Cheetham
Dance Director Karen Speers
After the cartoon and the remake of Anna and the King this Rodgers and Hammerstein classic comes to us with the image of Yul Brynner's King stamped right across it. For this revival ideally cast was Nigel Machin who played the King, a role which fitted him extremely well. Sheila Fildes as the "I", the Siamese royal governess Anna Leonowens, showed innovative style and breathed life into the role. Catherine Dillon as Tuptim was not musically strong but she was convincing as the ill-fated young lover. All the relationships in this production were fully imagined. Other roles were well portrayed by David Wycherley (Prince Chululongkorn), Alex Machin (Louis Leonowens), and Peter-Bowers (Kralahome). Not forgetting the winning kiddie display in "The March of the Siamese Children'". There was stylised choreography in the Asian retelling of Uncle Toms Cabin. With relentless conducting from the pit the director maintained a good. pace making this King and I easy to enjoy.
CHESS
South Trafford OS
Director: Jean Molnar
Musical Director: Nick Sanders
Dance Director: Christine Meadows
After the success of closing the theatre in Stretford Town Hall Trafford Council, in its wisdom, decided to close its last civic theatre in Sale. This was the home for South Trafford. The evicted society needed to find a performing space for a large membership and its choices were church halls or school. halls, the latter was chosen. Unfortunately the school hall acted as a canteen and had to be reverted back after each performance. With stage facilities to the minimum this unfazed society faced all these challenges. Chess was the ideal choice enabling the space to be used to its best advantage, e.g., putting the orchestra on the stage with an extension in front making a thrust stage. Robert Hart's set design was minimal but adequate and the production was, on the whole, well cast. Experience shone through Andi Cunningham portrayal of Arbiter. Unfortunately it was a solo performance while the rest of the cast worked as a team. We had the wonderful singing voice of Stuart Hall as Anatoly Sergievsky and Jeff Harpin played Frederick Trumper with authority and power. Lindsey Hennel as Florence Vessy and Sarah Taylor as Svetlana immersed themselves in their roles. The chorus rose to considerable heights musically but the volume from the orchestra in act two was so loud that all the subtleties in the score were lost, especially in the duet between Sergievsky and Vessy spoiling an otherwise musical feast. Thankfully under the guidance of the committee and a hard working membership this society is still able to present good theatre under such challenges - a lesson to us all.
ME AND MY GIRL
Urmston Musical Theatre
Director Mike Sammon
Musical Director Trevor Brooks
Dance Director Wendy Robinson
Me and My Girl has become a bit all round the world and with amateur societies. The 1984 revised version with a new book and extra songs gives the director a clear outline for the style to be presented. This lavish show is so steeped in music of its period and the MD did full justice to the score. Choreography came into its own in act II, in particular the "Leaning On A Lamp" dream ballet. Ian Roe provided an appealing Bill Snibson. I wanted to see more of the cheeky chappie (Max Miller style) which was needed at times. Sally played by Shirley Melia Redgrave gave a controlled performance but could have been stronger musically. The strength of this production lay in the supporting cast notably Jill Ratcliffe's vamp Lady Jacqueline, Ann Robinson's dragon of a Duchess, John Walker's "I Don't Mind If I Do" Sir John and Stephen McGillivray's fumbling Gerald. The members of the audience thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Once again it was a pleasure to assist chairman Mel Gibbs in the presenting of long service awards.