January 2005 - Region 10 - Peter Hendren
SNOW WHITE & THE SEVEN DWARFS
Whitehaven Theatre Group
A popular and well supported pantomime for the people of Whitehaven. It opened with a 'smash' start with the lively chorus setting the scene for a good night's entertainment. It is rather a 'thin' story line which needs to be enhanced with dancing and topical items. However the dancers and chorus were always interesting whether they were litle Santas or U.V. skeletons!
The director was Yvonne Chapman, a long time worker in the Theatre Group, who gave us a zippy show! Her daughter, Jayne Vincent, played Queen Lucretia in as nasty a role as I've seen. She ranted and raved and was thoroughly objectionable to cast and audience alike, thus prompting boos and hisses. I might have preferred a change in the vehement delivery for variety, but she turned this role into a brilliant character.
Her daughter, Victoria Vincent, in turn, played Snow White and added accomplished acting and singing to her known dancing skills, and indeed also choreographed one of the ensemble numbers. A chip off her mother's and grandmother's blocks! All the movements were interesting and innovative.
The comedy routines were lively, with the obligatory audience participation. There were a couple of 'polish points' when slicker cues in the starts and ends of numbers would have helped. Also there were occasional slow scene changes, but overall, an entertaining evening amongst old friends
The A - Z of Broadway
Carlisle Musical Society
Another one night 'smash' success for this society, working with the local paper, and in aid of the local hospice movement.
The numbers flowed thick and fast, solos, duets and full choruses from many of the popular Broadway shows. Popular radio presenter Val Armstrong commèred the show with interruptions from the children of the cast (this got rather tiring as they were not altogether audible!)
Special guests were locally born Mandy and Steve Falcon who are an experienced professional duo fresh from Spain and a cruise line.
Director David McNeill had just formed the Staged RightYouth Theatre only a few weeks previously, and this numbered 50 youngsters who joined in the concert. They have learned fast and will obviously getting a marvellous grounding in stage work as David is directing many of the events in this large theatre complex and out in the city itself.
An excellent evenings entertainment.
BLITHE SPIRIT
Whitehaven Theatre Group
Blithe Spirit is a wonderful play, possibly the best from Noel Coward? It needs brio, panache, and what I call "fizz" in performance.
Whitehaven Theatre Group had a very good shot at this but, I felt, didn't quite carry it off. Possibly the first night prompts were the cause especially in the second act, as they contribute largely to a drop in pace.
I liked the ladies in the show, especially the bright and perky performance from Anne Wilson as Elvira, always in character. Yvonne Chapman as Madame Arcati was suitably eccentric, though I might have preferred a more forceful delivery occasionally, to overawe the seance party. Jayne Vincent was convincing as the increasinbgly neurotic second wife. Michael Quinn was a good Charles Condamine and was a nice step up in his acting career.