January 2006 - Region 4 - Robin Blythe
DICK WHITTINGTON
Chrysanthemums Pantomime Society
Director-Julie Delaney
Choreographer - Emma Warrington
Musical Director - Norman Scott
A most enjoyable evening's entertainment from the first appearance of the Dame (Terry Davis). He had the audience ''eating out of hand''. Hake and Haddock, two sailors, - Graham Leigh and Jed Flowerday - were extremely funny. I particularly liked their 'coconut/bare bottoms' number.
Female principals all had such lovely voices: There was a large dancing chorus, all ages and so well trained, and it was lovely to see three boys amongst them. I was told that two of them will be appearing in Scrooge at the Liverpool Empire Theatre. Well done!
The remaining principals were well cast bar one. I am a traditionalist.; I like to see The Rat (Lee Griffiths) dressed from head to toe in green, likewise makeup and spot. Also dramatic entrances/exits. These I did not see. Pity!
Thank you for your hospitality. I look forward to seeing Jack and the Beanstalk.
SCROOGE
Wallasey Operatic Society
Director - Ian Lewis
Choreographer - Collette Atkins
Musical Director - Craig Price
Scrooge is based on Charles Dickins's book A Christmas Carol, a ghostly magical tale with a moral.. The demands on the main character, Ebenezer Scrooge, are enormous and these were met in full by Eric Mates who played and sang with conviction.
A rather healthy looking Tiny Tim, sang very sweetly. Jacob Marley, Mike Lockley, with his band of ghostly phantoms was extremely effective. Alison Campbell, the Ghost of Christmas Past, had the most lovely speaking voice and played the part well. The scene with Isabel, played by Gina Davis and young Scrooge, Carl Heyes, was played with sensitivity. Alison Wootton was very convincing as Mrs Cratchit.
Many of the scenes rely on ensemble playing and these were enhanced by the number of young people involved. At times some of the scenes looked a little under rehearsed which was a pity.
The cast was ably supported by the orchestra under the direction of Craig Price.
(June Beckett)
OLIVER!
St Paul's Operatic Society
Director - Joyce Porter
Choreographers - Francesa Anyon & Allison Moffitt
Musical Director - Brian Smith
Oliver! is so well known that we all have a picture of the characters. I could not grasp why Fagin, Richard Dodd, played the part in a crouched position. He appeared no taller than the boys. Also his wig needed trimming, far too much hair. He acted and sang well.
Nancy played her part with conviction and sang beautifully but looked far too immaculate. Oliver had all the qualities we expect to see, handsome, good voice and innocent looking. The boys ensemble was excellent, particularly the chubby boy with the impish grin! (I think he was the smallest on the stage). Bill Sykes, minus dog, - pity - was not villainous enough.
Two minor but important characters, Dr Grimwig, Denis Haslehurst and Mr Brownlow, John Phipps, were excellent - obviously experienced players and it showed.
Good set. Orchestra (lovely sounding violin) and choreography complimented this production. Thank you for your hospitality. I look forward to seeing your next production.
PATIENCE
West Wirral Musical Society
Director - Barry Prescott
Musical Director - Paul Goulden
Lovesick maidens, Officers of the Dragoon Guards, a fleshly poet, an idyllic poet, a dairy maid, and with wonderful music and a witty script, all add up to the fun filled operatic burlesque.
The humour and the romance of the lyrics was well supported by the orchestra under Paul Goulden. There was colourful and imaginative staging by the director Barry Prescott, with clever use of the actors coming through the audience and dancing in the aisle.
Patience, played by Phillipa Hipwell, sang with sweetness and clarity of tone and I loved her country bumpkin accent. Kevin Prendergast was well cast as the aesthetic poet, Reginald Bunthorne, as was Philip Jackson as Archibold Grosvenor (long lost friend of Patience).
Colonel Calverley, Barry Hartley, sang and played the part in a suitably bumptious manner. A most enjoyable evening.
(June Becktt and Craig Price)
FLOTSAM AND JETSAM
Ellesmere Port Light Opera Company
Book & Lyrics - Leigh Stanley
Music - Michael Williams
Choreographer - Katie Pichford
This is a musical tale of pirates, ghost and treasure and it's for all the family. Help Jetsam the Pirate and the children on their quest to find the treasure, meet the awful Wokhm, Moaner the Groaner and Blackbeard's ghost on Skeleton Island.
To write book/lyrics and compose the music requires a great talent and Leigh Stanley and Michael Williams deserve congratulations. This was an excellent evening's entertainment.
I attended the show twice, opening night and the final performances, I enjoyed both performances very much.
There was a large cast but by clever grouping on various levels, every member of the cast could be seen and heard. The choreography by Katie Pichford was imaginative and executed by an ensemble of well-drilled and attractive dancers complimenting the production.
Black 'Eart Jetsam, a pirate ghost was played by Richie Smith. He was excellent and looked happy and relaxed, sang and acted well, sustaining a West-country accent throughout. Well done.
Jane Chance looked extremely attractive, acted and sang beautifully the part of Alison of "Ghoreside" Childrens Home, New Brighton.
It was a joy to see so many young and enthusiastic youngsters on stage. Our future existence depends on them. Congratulations to them all.
An enormous amount of hard work and originality had been achieved with props and costumes. Congratulations to wardrobe manger Jean Ellerton and her team.
To all members on stage, back stage and front of house, well done!
KISS ME KATE
Ellesmere Port Musical Theatre Company
Director - June Becket
Choreographer - Sue Hickman- Germon
Musical Director - Craig Price
This further flowering of the Cole Porter genius with its superb melodies and clever and witty libretto has always been a firm favourite of mine. Having been disappointed by the premature abandonment of the recent professional tour I was most pleased to be reacquainted with it at Ellesmere Port.
The show provides some marvellous parts, both large and small, for a company. The on-stage frictions between the leading players in a touring Taming of the Shrew, together with the problems caused by the gambling of Bill Calhoun, lead to much humour and a deliciously involved story-line.
There was a well sung Fred/Petruchio from Graham Turner and he was well matched by the fiery Lilli/Kate of Jane Chance. For me the best performance was that of Laura Coard as Bianca, ably supported by Barry Hickman-Germon as Bill/Lucentio. Of course the "Brush Up Your Shakespeare" number for the two gangsters always gets the audience plaudits and it was well delivered by Tom Saban and Colin Hodson. Robin Blythe was a sprightly Paul in "Too Darned Hot". Minor parts were well played but I found the casting of girls in some obviously male roles slightly disconcerting. Did this arise from a shortage of men, so much a problem for many societies?
There were times when an increase in pace, both musically and orally, would have benefited the show but these did not detract from an enjoyable evening, deserving of a better audience.
(Elsie Kelly)
CHESHIRE CATS
Guilden Sutton Players
"I was most kindly invited to see a performance of Chester Cats. It was a bitterly cold evening but in contrast I received a warm welcome from the members I met prior to the performance.
This is a play about a group of women from Chester who take part in the Moonwalk to raise money for breast cancer research, and it shows them training, on their way to London, taking part in the walk itself, and returning to Chester.
There were lots of laughs as well as poignant moments and I, and the audience, enjoyed every second of it.
Chester Cats is a new comedy drama by Gail Young - who also wrote, directed and starred in the production. My word, what a talented young lady Gail is.
My congratulation to everyone connected to the production both onstage and backstage: it was faultless. If ever an amateur production deserves a professional production this play does. The house was full, and every member of that audience would sing their praises, as I am doing now. What a wonderful evening!