May 2002 - Region 2 - Keith Painter
TALKING HEADS
Arnold School
Directed by Colin Snell
A very nice black and white simple set. I also liked the four caricatures of the cast at the back of the stage. I thought the four characters did a wonderful job and kept to their parts.
Graham did a good job with his accent and made the story of him and his mother very believable. Susan and the things that she got up to in her position as vicar's wife made us laugh.
In the second act Lesley told us all about her big chance of being an actress. Miss Fozzard with her feet in a bowl of water told us how she kept them so beautiful.
Four different stories all told with humour and intellect. I enjoyed them all very much.
MOTHER GOOSE
St Bernadette's Players
This pantomime, directed by David Melling and written by Norman Robbins, was a perfect choice for this small society. Plenty of variety in the parts and a nice set and costumes all helped to lighten the mood. The scenery was colourful and just sufficient for the size of the stage.
A good opening scene in the village where we were introduced to all the different characters. The school scene was very comical with Mother Goose in charge of her unruly pupils.
Of course the real star was Pnscilla the goose who was as loveable as ever.
The cast was well supported by the juniors and babes who will no doubt be the stars of tomorrow. Once again good triumphed over evil as the show closed in a beautiful ballroom set. Thank you all.
OLIVER!
The Douglas Choral Union
Director and Choreographer: John Cumberlidge
Musical Director: Martin Heywood
This was my first visit to this Society and I hope not the last as I saw what for me was the best Oliver that I have seen for some considerable time. The set was good and so were the back stage crew who made sure that the action was not held up; yes, it had a continuity which gave it such a fast moving and seamless production and to that end the director can be congratulated. The production had style and the costumes were excellent.
As for the cast. Well! Full marks for a well-trained set of 23 boys, both as Fagin's gang and the Workhouse lads they moved as one and were always involved in the action. The adults were not bad, either. Oliver was well done by Ben Jolly, he has a pleasant voice and the cheeky ways of the Dodger were executed well by Lorcan O'Mahoney.
Nice performances all round by the Sowerberry household: Nick Wineads as Mr and Val Cowley as Mrs with nice cameos by Olivia Black as Charlotte and Matthew Overfield who played Noah. We had amusing performances from both Mr Bumble, played by Geoff Shimmin, and Carol Bairstow's Widow Corney.
Bill Sykes was suitably nasty and had the threatening presence necessary for this character and was handled well by a newcomer to the society, Alex Toohey. Bet, although a small part, was performed with ease by the pretty Leanne Paradise.
With a super supporting cast which included little gems from Alwyn Collister as Mr. Brownlow, Frances Ouayle as Mrs. Bedwin and Lindsey Riordan as Dr. Grimwig.
Two performances can either make or break this show, that of Fagin and the other Nancy and in both cases these parts were in very safe hands, for we had an extremely good Fagin for which Tony Hawkes gave his own individual interpretation which was spot on, and finally the very attractive Nicola Bridson gave a feisty performance to mark her first appearance with the society and I'm sure it will not be the last.
This was an enjoyable production and once again shows how much talent the Island holds.
Thank you to the Committee for their hospitality and to the whole company.
(Colin Magenty)
TWELVE ANGRY MEN
Fylde Coast Players
The first thing of note about this play was that it was played in the round. It was the first time I had seen a play like this at Lowther and I am undecided whether it was a success or not. Although I felt part of the action I found it difficult to hear some of the characters and as the play is based on the arguments between the twelve jurors I felt I could have missed out on something important. Talking in the bar at the interval I spoke to other members of the audience who had the same problem.
Having said that the play itself was very good. The story of a boy who has murdered his bullying father and the deliberations of the jury who must agree twelve to one either way is absorbing.
I had not seen the famous film before so I didn't know the outcome although most of the audience appeared to. Glyn Morton was always convincing in his convictions and Keith Canal as the one juror who suggests the youth may be innocent gave a credible argument.
I enjoyed it but found some of the heated dialogue hard to follow at times.
DICK WHITTINGTON AND HIS CAT
Nogal Pear Tree Players
Oh it's panto time again. Oh no it isn't, oh yes it is. At least it was at Lowther Pavilion with the Pear Tree Players who always do such a good job of a pantomime. Produced by Sue Gallagher MBE once again this was always going to be a winner. Excellent singing and dancing combined with good chorus movement made it a visual delight. Nice costumes with props to match and a set by Peter Wilson that had you believing you were in the heart of London.
Dick and Alice sang and acted well together and were, of course, ably helped by the cat. The comedy was provided by Captain Mainbrace and his motley crew (whether intentional or not!).
I felt that the Dame hadn't quite settled into the part but I'm sure he would have improved as the week went on. Bobby and Billy, the two daft kids who kept messing things up, complemented each other well.
The two "Good" fairies, The Bow Bells, were not your average fairies but kept us amused throughout the show. Another very entertaining evening from this group.
AMY'S VIEW
Poulton Drama
This was my first viewing of this play and what an excellent piece of work it is and given full value by Poulton Drama.
A wonderful play with an absoulute tour de force performance by Sally Grey in the role of Esme. Ruth Cockburn given the slice of luck needed sometimes right place right time. There is nothing this young lady could not achieve, what talent. Congratulations to the director, Renee Ames, for the sensitive production.
As usual the props, scenery and the lighting were meticulous, and a lovely touch was the choice of music to close at the interval with Kate Winslett and to close the finale with Charlotte Church.
A very thought provoking and inspiring evening.
(Ken Robinson)
LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS
Preston Musical Comedy Society
Directed by Steve Chesters
Musical Director: Sean Ashmore
This was the first time I had seen this show and what a good show it was.
The scenery was excellent with props to match. The plant was very well made, starting as a little shoot in a pot and almost filling the stage by the end,
There were some good singing numbers and chorus routines. I quite like the three girl singers who told the story as it went on. The shop manager did an excellent job throughout along with his assistants Seymour and Audrey.
After Seymour cuts his finger near the plant and it revives he realises the plant is going to take a lot of feeding and so the body count begins.
I expected a sleepless night after this horror story especially when the plant started on the audience at the end of the show having run out of characters to eat!
A RING OF ROSES
Thornton Cleveleys Youth Theatre
This was the North West premiere of A Ring of Roses, which tell the story of the great plague in England in 1655. Some 40 children from the age of 10 to 20 were in this production.
Many hundreds of children had to leave their families to escape the ravages of this terrible disease. This play tells the story through the eyes of the children.
It was a very good play with everyone doing his or her best in the parts. The older children guided the younger ones as they played out this terrible time in our history.
Of course no play is complete without a baddie and in this play there were the three witches. Another very good evening out.
SINBAD THE SAILOR
The Parish Church of St Anne
Producer/Choreographer: Phil Hemmings
Assistant Choreographer: Alison Thornton
Musical Director: Simon Tmson
Another very good and lively pantomime from this well established society. Colourful, well constructed scenery and props. The music was well paced and lively and not too loud.
The cast, led by Widow O'Malley played by Peter Hall and ably assisted by Ali, Sean Couchman, all did their best.
There was some nice singing from Sinbad and the Princess and they were well supported by the chorus and dancers. Thank you all.
2002 MUSICAL REVUE
Sue Turner Fylde Theatre Group
Sue's lists of achievements listed in the programme speak volumes. Many former members of the group have gone on to stage and stardom and no doubt many more will in the future.
I thought the principal singers for this production Samantha, Shelley and John did a good job. There were some great selections with good performances from the children.
From 'Reach for the Stars' to a Tribute to Fred and Ginger and a clever Tiller tap routine and finishing off with 'Mama Mia'. Well done everyone.
GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS
Teresian Players
The story starts in a circus ring run by the ringmaster. Here we meet the three bears who escape from the circus and go to the woods where they meet Goldilocks. They all go through lots of adventures before it all ends "Happy Ever After".
A nice touch was the character The Weakest Link who appeared now and then to send the cast away with a scornful "Goodbye".
I also liked the programme which included thanks to most of the "backroom" helpers who are so often taken for granted.
Thank you everybody for a pleasant evening.
HANSEL AND GRETEL
Trinity Theatre Group
Written by Ron Hall
Director: Tracy Suthers
A very good and lively pantomime. There were some nice sets. The adult chorus sang and acted well with the youngsters helping them out.
The forest fairy had a great battle with the wicked witch of the wood with the two characters having a good repartee between them.
Of course the whole show was dominated by Miss Daisy Demeanour played by Arthur Caldicott with his usual sense of fun and good humour. Everyone else supported him well in their parts and produced a very good pantomime.
STEPPING OUT
Windmill Players
This is the second time I have seen this group give a production of this play, the previous one some five or six years ago. For the big finale they engaged the services of one of the local operatic society's dancers.
Not this time! The chosen cast all decided that this time there was not going to be any swings, understudies or doppelgangers. They were going to do it themselves. And what a brilliant job they all made of it, even Mrs Fraser (Mary Forbes) learnt to play the piano.
The director and choreographer, Sarah Jane Stone, also played the role of the teacher who took this gathering of misfits for their weekly tap dancing class in the church hall, she was assisted by Mary Forbes.
All the characters were wonderfully played by Jackie Rhodes, Denise Flynn, Kath Murthwaite, Anne George, Mary Wood, Krisia Dugdale, David Priestly and Cathie Welsh.
The time, work and effort that must have been put in to get the big finish to standard, does not bear thinking about.
The play has many lovely moments, but one outstanding bit was as Mavis arrived early at the hall to put on a music tape and just danced an excellent solo routine until she was interupted by the arrival of a class member, took me back to the days of Cyd Charise and Ann Miller, etc.
The stage setting of a church hall was excellent, as were props costumes and lighting.