May 2003 - Region 1 - John Flay
CABARET
All Saints Musical Productions
Director: John Cunningham
Musical Director: David Bamford
Dance Director: Christine Meadows
Emcee (Steven Stubbs) showed in his characterisation all the ugliness of pre-war Germany. This was a wonderfully rich and totally committed performance. What a shame the "Kit Kat Girls" did not have the same grotesqueness to equal him.
Sally Bowles played by Jill Mallen was a constant delight, she depicted the liberated, unshockable, English Rose.
The rest of the cast showed strength of acting but two other performances stood out. Val Bacon (Fraulein Schneider) gave pathos to the character to an extent I have never seen before. Then there was Graham Dey as Herr Schultz: his rendering of "Meeskit" was performed with great aplomb.
The scene changes were cumbersome and perhaps music to cover the changes would have been more acceptable, instead the audience was left waiting.
The M.D moved the score at a pace, which contributed, to making this revival
an intensely dramatic piece.
THE WIZ
The Jewish Theatre Group, Junior Section
Director: Robert Margolis
Musical Director: David Wilson
Dance Director: Debbie Margolis
I have not enjoyed this "Super Soul Musical Version" of The Wizard Of Oz, until now. I now realise you have to have the set, lighting, orchestra and sound to make it work for those components are equal to the characters and without them the piece falls flat. This group had all that plus pyrotechnics. From the first beat of the young and accomplished orchestra the audience was taken on a journey of sheer delight.
This young cast gave an entertaining evening full of energy attack and pace. The strong cast worked well together.
Aimee Horwich as Dorothy gave a riveting performance. Each of her songs
was bold and well drawn.
Whether it's the traditional or this modern Oz there has to be The
Three Stooges and Jake Filson in his first role as Tinman showed he was equal
to the demands of the character. Adam Paulden got the chance to show his
versatility as Scarecrow but it was Michael Sluckis as the Lion who stole
the show with his natural flair for comedy.
All the other members of the cast rose to the challenge of the slick choreography and sure direction.
DANGEROUS CORNER
PADOS Theatre Group
Director: Garyk Barnett
This time play by J.B. Priestley is of seemingly happily married couples and their friends set after a dinner party. The conversation turns to the past and the suicide of the brother of the host. The reason for the suicide has never been discussed until now.
The time is 1932 which was easily brought to the audience's attention by the set and set dressings of the period. What a shame the costumes did not have the same effect.
Casting was well balanced, however it would have been preferable to have some of the actor's closer to their characters ages. I am well aware of these difficulties. The cast of seven explored their roles to the full showing understanding which helped each to show their other side with truth.
Direction was fluid and the tension was held, but I wanted to see more period movement and speech depicting high society of 1932. Despite saying that the production worked well on the whole.
SOUTH PACIFIC
Sale & Altrincham Musical Theatre
Director: Val Watkins
Musical Director: Janet Archer
Richard Rodgers' score was in safe hands and the M.D. had a great evening with an on-form orchestra. Direction was reckless which left the cast with the unenviable task of establishing much weakened characters. In the end it was the actors' determination which won the evening.
Caroline Price as Ensign Forbush pulled out all the vocal stops and truly was 'Nellie'. Her Emile, Liam Sammom, made his mark with his audience.
The two 'Iron Bellies' Brackett (John Ranson) and Harbison (Jeff Harpin) worked hard to keep the story line going.
This would have been a disappointing evening but was saved by a cast who were determined to make the production work and you can only praise that.
After the performance I presented long service awards to Gill Bate and Caroline Smith. Congratulations.
SOME ENCHANTED EVENING
Jewish Theatre Group
Director: Robert Margolis
Choreographer: Debbie Margolis
This was not a typical show as it has no plot but is merely a collection of some Rodgers & Hammerstein songs with arrangements which enabled some of them to flow into others which made you realise just how much musicals owe in the post-war era to this magnificent team with each show having several songs both familiar and of lasting duration. Not a long show (which tends to appeal to me) but very dependent on the production, the performers and the backing.
The Margolis family were much to the forefront, not only in the production of the show but also in its performance with Debbie Margolis having perhaps the best voice on stage and Robert in charge of the appropriate musical backing and I liked the movement of the Company which was quite slick and the staging, lighting and dressing of the show which were simple but effective.
Perhaps there may be companies with some stronger singing principals but the various performers all sang to a more than reasonable and acceptable standard but above all, their individual and keen stage personalities all came through and made this a most enjoyable show which was well produced, performed and enjoyed by the audience.
On a personal note, it was nice to visit this Society again after several
years and they deserve much credit for this excellent evening's entertainment.
Tony Adler
THE PIED PIPER OF HAMELIN
St Lukes Arts & Drama Society
Directors: Kate Davison & Julie Martin
Musical Director: Bill Watson
Dance Director: Sonia Whittle
Once again this society presented a traditional family pantomime and it was all down to team work. This year Paul Whittle abandoned his usual knock about roles and put on the frocks to become Dame Gertrude Blusterhoister who stole the show effortlessly showing what comic timing is all about.
In support was Mike Gibson as Humpernick Finklfepper and Nicola Bowen as Maud Maudin, their boundless energy and "over the top" characters filled the stage.
You cannot have a pantomime without good and evil and these two elements were in the safe hands of Glenys Brady (Fairy Queen) and Sonia Whittle (Imp). Principal boy Natalie Grundy (Pied Piper) and Vicky Powell as Katie were convincing and appealing. The cast also included Jackie Beaumont and Mandy Cordina as Dreadful and Worse.
Apart from the scene "the land beyond the hill" which was too
long this was a good script by Leonard H Caddy. Costumes and scenery by the
society all helped to make this good family entertainment.
BABES IN THE WOOD
Sale Nomads
Direction: Bill Jellyman
Musical Director: Ian Gander
Dance Director: Val Jellyman
Children's Dance Director: Muriel Spavin
After all the trouble of finding a venue the Nomads once again return to St Paul's Church Hall and turn that limited space into panto land. No scrimping, this was a Nomad pantomime in their true tradition. A tremendous amount of effort was put into staging this inventive production.
The script by Rae Terence was excellent. Each scene was complete and full of fun using all the components.
The strong cast rose to the challenge. Everyone merits a special mention but Ivor Snowden, as the Sheriff of Nottingham was as good a baddie as you will get. Mark Jellyman and Jenny Hollinshead were full of knock about fun and childlike acting causing much delight among the younger members of the audience. The Nomad juniors provided extra colour with their dancing.
To make the evening complete there was a visit in the Forest from Gluis,
Harry Potter and Bob the Builder.
Pantomime comes no better than this.
UP N' UNDER
Sale Nomads
Director: John Cunningham
John Godber's play about a North of England amateur rugby team stands or
falls on the delivery of the lines.
Godber's style of minimalist set allows the audience to use its imagination
to fill in the blanks, this stretches the actor to the full.
For this production a cast was brought together all of equal ability and talent. It was ensemble playing from beginning to end as each actor unfolded and engaged the audience.
The pitch and pace of the dialogue towards the end of act one was too much and began to tire me but was pulled back in act two.
David Black, Dave Mallen, Howard Anson, Howard Newall, Mike Sammon, Ken Curran and Jane Pantoja as the "Wheatsheaf Arms" team were very well rehearsed which made the acted out match with the "Cobblers Arms" work beautifully.
The audience was left enthusing over a great night's entertainment.
DICK WHITTINGTON
Urmston Musical Theatre
Director: Colin Titley
Musical Director: Sheila Jackson
Dance Director: Carole McGillivary
This was a bright and breezy pantomime of London's other legendary mayor. The production team kept everything at a pace. Song selection worked well but lacked recent chart songs which would have helped to keep the kids' interest. Scenery was minimal which was fine but some thought is needed on reducing the size of the stage which at times looked cavernous.
In the title role was Marina Anderson and young newcomer Kathy Moors as Alice Fitzwarren - they were a traditional principal boy and girl. John Walker created great rapport with the audience as Idle Jack and Clive Banks made a winning Dame.
The other comedy role Captain Cuttle (Ralph Etherington) kept the laughter going. We must not forget Amy Brown as Tommy the cat who had all the answers to Dick's problems.
This was good seasonal fare.