May 2002 - Region 7 - Tony Adler
CAROUSEL
Uppermill Stage Society
Producer: John Harrison
Musical Director: Harry Butterworth
Choreographer: Shellie-Beth Sinclair
This was a very good show, soundly directed by John Harrison with an experienced and well balanced cast who seemed to work well together. Even the least experienced member of the cast, namely Rachael Aplin as Carrie, will have learned from being in such good company and she did well.
Martin Bradbury was a fine Billy Bigelow. He looked a fit muscular young man of about the right age and appearance and his acting was very good indeed and his voice is excellent. His soliloquy was as good as I have heard and seen and it was a fine all round performance.
Sandie Beswick was an excellent Julie Jordan. It was a mature and sympathetic performance and yet quite strong and convincing and one felt that it was possible to relate to her.
Peter Wakefield gave a super performance as Mr. Snow. A little less severe than some Mr. Snows I have seen but he was so pleasant without being weak and he was warm, full of expression and his singing was quite delightful to match his character and it was a performance which added to and helped the show considerably.
Vicky Radburn's strength and experience allied with her voice provided the right character portrayal as Nettie. Rodney Cadd was a strong nasty piece of work as Jigger and Jackie Matthews was "at home" as Mrs Mullin and aptly described in the show by Jigger.
The strength and well playing of smaller parts adds so much to the qualities of a show and John Hankin as Mr. Bascombe, Gordon Crabtree as the Heavenly Friend and Colin Watt as the Policeman proved this, to say nothing about a delightful and gentle but dignified performance as ever by Charles Hopwood as the Star Keeper.
What rounded the show off, apart from the chorus, was the ballet. This is often almost an embarrassment when a small society performs it, but in this case it was sufficiently well done to be a credit to the choreographer and an equal part of the strength of the show and, indeed, Alison Saville was an excellent Louise.
This will be a hard one to follow, Uppermill, because you are setting yourselves higher standards every year.
CINDERELLA
Oldham Metropolitan AOS
Producer: Terry Mills
Musical Director: Paul Nicholls
Choreographer: Dawn Leigh
This was the Society's first attempt at pantomime (I think) in its 40 years of existence and it may be its last - but that might be a pity.
Crompton Stage Society is a very suitable venue for this type of show due to the intimacy with the audience. There were plenty of kids in the auditorium and they enthusiastically joined in and enjoyed it - and so did most of the adults. It was a fairly experienced and talented cast for musicals and indeed the way the panto was written by Peter Denyer was a bit of a send up.
The Ugly Sisters are usually the best part of Cinderella and they complimented each other rather well. The tall Michael Mills who has played many leading roles, probably new to this sort of role, was more the stooge for the rather diminutive Mark Rossenthal than the other way round.
Mark now has a lot of experience in all types of parts under his belt and they worked well together and Mark's timing and tightness in dialogue just showed this experience. However, they could both be in great demand as Ugly Sisters but certainly not for dates!
The young Lauren Battersby did well as Cinderella and Dawn Leigh, as Prince Charming, strode around the stage in her tights with gusto and, indeed, Kathryn Quimby as Dandini was a fair match.
Brent Andrews played the part of Buttons rather well. Buttons is not one of my favourite parts because I always feel very sorry for him, but Brent is quite versatile and he was very pleasing.
Chris Jagus, as the Baron, was suitably under the thumb of his stepdaughters.
Ann McCabe did well as the Fairy Godmother with quite lengthy speeches and I believe she took over at reasonably short notice, and no show at Oldham Met is complete without Peter Hilton with his own style and accent as the Chamberlain.
All the Company did well, the musical accompaniment had its moments and the atmosphere was excellent.
CINDERELLA
St. Mark's with Christ Church Glodwick Stage Society
Producer/Director: Doreen Hinchcliffe
Choreographer: Barbara Brierley
Musical Director: Mark Marshall
Doreen Hinchcliffe kept this Panto ticking along at a fine pace helped by a full house who were ever ready to participate.
Whilst some of the individual performances had limitations, nevertheless, everyone worked well together. Jane Fox was a confident Prince Charming and Steven Michael Lowe as Buttons kept going throughout rather well.
Ray Mort and Terry Baynham were a right pair of Ugly Sisters and contrasted well with each other. One was rather basic and aggressive and the other a little more subtle but both were suitably over-costumed and fed off each other for their comedy.
The usual musical backing was on hand to help the evening and the stage staff had put in hard work as ever to provide a suitable backcloth.
I feel St. Mark's will consider this to have been a successful Panto and well worth all the time and effort from all those involved and their many helpers.
SOUTH PACIFIC
Heywood AO and DS
Produced and directed by: Coralie Mooney
Musical Director: David Abendstern
Choreographer: Jill McIntosh
Coralie Mooney will be well satisfied with her production of this traditional Rodgers & Hammerstein offering, well assisted by Jill McIntosh as Choreographer and David Abendstern and his Orchestra. Coralie herself has been a fine Nellie in the past and no doubt her familiarity with the show helped with her ability to keep it moving, particularly in the second act.
David Reeves (new to me) gave a solid and convincing performance as the mature and well read Emile and I enjoyed his solid singing and dignified acting.
Allison Green worked hard to achieve a satisfactory portrayal of Nellie, although I did not feel she was ideally cast in the part. Her singing and acting were fine but she did not quite give the impression of a young immature slightly knuckle-headed Nellie to which I am more accustomed.
I wondered how the inexperienced Mark Brierley would fare as Cable and although his performance may not have hit the heights, it was more than satisfactory and his singing was better than many Cables I have heard and it was very good for a newcomer.
Liat was nicely portrayed by Charlotte Schofield and Paul Allcock was everyone's pain in the backside as Luther Billis and, although he did not carry quite the authority which the role can give, he did well.
All the other supporting roles were satisfactorily done including Ron Dawson and Geoff Gray as the Officers and the chorus, both male and female played their parts fully.
However, how often does the actress playing Bloody Mary steal or almost steal this show? And quite frequently, this part is played by a member of the Company who has previously not had a chance to shine. Christine Greenway did just that.
She looked right, acted well and sang superbly and held the stage whenever she was on and it was a performance which was a pleasure to witness.
This was a traditional show which suits the Heywood audience and they quite rightly seemed to enjoy it.
H.M.S. PINAFORE
Hope Entertainment Society
Producer: Ann Dobell
Musical Director: David Parkin
There is some very good music in Pinafore with an excellent overture which was very well played by the orchestra under the direction and control of David Parkin which started the show in an excellent manner. We then saw a reliable production by Ann Dobell on a stage with a practical and excellent set designed by Jenny Hannibal and Jim Holdaway.
The chorus singing was strong (as ever at Hope) which backed up an experienced team of principals with Megan Patrick as Little Buttercup leading the way in her ever reliable manner.
Peter Crichton (yes, him again for his third lead in G&S with different societies within 4/5 months - but with the same wig) played the love sick Able Seaman Ralph Rackstraw with his customary amorous enthusiasm and in this case with a rapid but deserved promotion as I calculate he must have been so able a seaman for many years that he had previously not merited even a small promotion, whilst the helpful and obliging Austin McKenna took over as the Captain at short notice, due to a family health problem with the prior incumbent, and having carried the role both from an acting and singing point of view, very competently was rewarded by a dramatic demotion and hand (indeed all of her) of Little Buttercup.
Pamela Bailey as the Captain's daughter was the usual mixed up G & S heroine and sang in a perfectly acceptable manner whilst Trevor Evans played the First Lord of the Admiralty pretty straight and reliably well supported by Andrea Marshall as his first cousin Hebe.
This was a pleasant and relaxed evening's entertainment.
CRAZY FOR YOU
Rochdale Amateur Operatic Society
Director: Gary Davis
Musical Director: Harry Butterworth
Choreographer: Ann Parkinson
Assistant to the Director: Vicky Radburn
I suspect that this is one of many American shows written in the thirties as a vehicle for song writers to turn out new numbers at a fast speed with what would then appear to be bright and appropriate lyrics and a plot (or something like a plot) that was simply boy meets girl, one wealthy, one poor, interfering family, dancing show girls, plenty of characters, a happy ending and no one on stage particularly bright.
A Gershwin show always holds some magic for me and some of the numbers are superb and immortal but the intros and use in the show are not the most apt.
Rochdale overcame many difficulties to put on a show which was very enjoyable although I suspect it will not be very memorable.
The loss of a producer and the leading man a few weeks before opening night caused a few rethinks and Gary Davis, a fine singer and leading man, demands great praise for moving up to the lead which is that of a singing and dancing man and getting away with it at the same time as having to direct the show and rally the troops. A super achievement reflecting great credit on him.
He was very fortunate to have as his leading lady Ann Birchenhough whose experience and delightful temperament must have been a godsend quite apart from her talent and ability to do justice to the Gershwin songs.
Ian Parratt as Lank Hawkins will not consider this his hardest part but his timing and presence with the best one liners in the show were excellent and Melanie Hartley, as Irene Roth, made her contribution well.
The Society was lucky that some one as experienced and capable as Geoffrey Holme was prepared to step in as Bela Zangler and add his qualities to an enjoyable portrayal of the part and working well with Zoe Booth who did rather well as Tess.
All the smaller parts were well played including Ann Stubbs as Lottie Child and Ray Dale as Everett Baker whilst Jackie Ashworth and Geoff Gray almost stole the show in the character roles of the Travel Guide Writers, Patricia and Eugene Fodor.
All the small but enthusiastic company added to the show and the choreography by Ann Parkinson and the dancing were excellent and very enjoyable to watch.
Needless to say, Harry Butterworth and his equally excellent orchestra did full justice to the score and the audience will have all gone home suitably entertained and quite happy.
I should add that I suspect Gary Davis was more than pleased to have Vicky Radburn behind him for someone to lean on for support, assistance and general theatrical common sense which would have been a blessing.