January 2006 - Region 8 - David Parkes
IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY
Congleton Players
Producer and Director: Pamela Mien
This very funny farce is set in a Doctors’ Common Room, with characters coming and going like you wouldn’t imagine.
The two main parts played by Mike Clowes and Dave Martin managed to keep the fun and antics going throughout the plot. With some very well written dialogue they certainly got the most out of their roles. Peter Cooper as Sir Willoughby certainly looked every inch the part and delivered his dialogue with ease, as did Margaret Taylor who played a very good starchy matron. Congratulations too to Craig Burns who played a very ‘camp’ doctor. The two main females played by Yvonne Tilley and Annette Bradley worked hard, but on occasions looked a little uncomfortable and I felt a little under rehearsed. Peter Nixon as Bill Lesley had a good approach to his character, but his dialogue was very unclear at times and you tended to miss the thread of what was happening. Well done to all other principals who were well cast for this production.
I did like the set, it worked well for the comings and goings and the window ledge scene was very good. Some nice touches with props on either side of the stage and the WRVS stand certainly put the authenticity in the set.
(Sheryl Haydock-Howorth)
THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE
Mid-Cheshire A.O.S.
Opening to a very strong male chorus of Pirates, we were treated to the serious music of probably the most popular of all Gilbert & Sullivan operas.
Martin Roberts (Frederic) and Barbara Lewis (Mabel) sang and acted well together, - a nice blend, with good support from the ladies chorus.
There was a dominant portrayal of the Pirate King by Jeff Burgess and he was ably supported by Samuel (his lieutenant) played by the ever improving Wayne Storey. Alan Jackson gave a solid performance as Sergeant of Police and was well matched by the ladies in Edith (Chloe Leigh), Kate (Krysia Rose), Isabel (Diane Roberts) and an appealing Ruth played by Janice Rendel
I was most impressed with Barrie Billinge as the Major General and the excellent diction and rendering of that tongue twister 'I Am the Very Model of the Modern Major General'.
Musical accompaniment by Stephen Reynolds was superb and the musical director, Danka Wieckowska, controlled the cast extremely well.
The lighting and sets were simple, but effective and complementary to the story line.
WELL DONE!!!
(Ken Webb)
GYPSY
Centenary Theatre Company
Director: Alan Thomas
Musical Director: Jill Hyde
Choreographer: Julie Parry
To mark their transfer from the Parr Hall at Warrington to the brand new Brindley Theatre at Runcorn the former Centenary O & DS decided not only to adopt a new name but to stage a musical that they had not previously performed. The Brindley is a superbly designed theatre with excellent front of house and backstage facilities including the capability to fly scenery.
For their debut performance, Centenary made a brave choice of show which is based on the memoirs of Louise Hovick who became famous as Gypsy Rose Lee in burlesque. The original Broadway production, which starred the great Ethel Merman, ran for over 700 performances and has had several revivals.
The part of Mama Rose, the pushiest of mothers, was a gift for Patsy Roberts who excels in the Dolly/Mame type of role that she has made her own whilst Mark Murphy performed to his customary high standard as Herbie, her long suffering fiancé.
The story commences with Mama's two daughters June and Louise being entered in children's talent shows and their subsequent progression to being adult performers. The two youngsters, Baby June and Baby Louise were delightfully played by Sophie Magee and Ellen Bleasdale - both of whom will, I am sure, have great futures in the musical theatre.
The adult role of June, who eventually gave up performing as a result of Mama's incessant demands, was given a fine portrayal by Kathryn Cooper whilst Clare Ewing added to her list of previous successes with a sterling performance as Louise - progressing from her role as an underrated actress to the star she eventually became.
Gypsy boasts a large cast of characters and performers in a multiplicity of scenarios from the 1920/30 vaudeville era all of which were well cast and performed with choreography and musical accompaniment to Centenary's usual excellent standard.
I did feel that there was some hesitancy in the opening of some of the scenes which I put down to the unfamiliarity of the new layout and facilities but, that said, this was an entertaining production which bodes well for the company's future promotions at the Brindley.
MY FAIR LADY
Acton AOS
Director & Choreographer: Sheryl Haydock-Howorth
Musical Director: lan Wareham
Making his debut appearance with the Acton society, the experienced John Corcoran excelled in one of his favourite roles, that of Professor Henry Higgins, a performance that was well matched by the delightful Debbie Cornock as Eliza Doolittle. Also making debut performances with Acton AOS, Walter Brown did well as Colonel Hugh Pickering having taken on the role at very short notice and Ken Brindley gave a fine portrayal of Alfred P. Doolittle, ably supported by Mike Malone and Philip Preece as his sidekicks Jamie and Harry.
Darren Thornhill brought his considerable vocal talent to the role of Freddie Eynsford-Hill and there were pleasurable performances from NODA NW award winner Jennifer Hall as Mrs Higgins and Clare Hoy as Mrs Eynsford-Hill. Zoltan Karparthy was characterised well by Gary Blackman and the principal line up was completed by Debbie Edgeley as the capable housekeeper Mrs Pearce.
Chorus routines were well performed with glittering Ascot and Embassy ballroom scenes and the servants of Henry Higgins were particularly well drilled and harmonious.
With Clifford & Brown's scenery, Howorth-Wrightson's properties, Triple C's costumes and Bromiley's wigs, this was a bright and lively production of this long standing favourite show which, I feel, is now overdue for re-writing into a shortened version.
Congratulations to all involved.
THE GRAND OCTOBER COMEDY SHOW
Lowton O & DS
Producers: Phil Dickinson & Peter Longworth
Recent reports on Lowton's shows have made mention of declining audience numbers and I am sorry to say that this production will have done little, if anything, to bring then back. In fact some of the opening night audience left during the second half.
The programme billed sketches, a musical interlude and drama performed by the Company and the Youth Group.
The contributions by the very youthful Youth Group were bright and cheerful and they acquitted themselves well in their routines. The musical interlude included the highlight of the show, a solo by the very talented young singer Chris Stacey who was worthy of being given more than the one spot in the programme.
Apart from a couple of sketches the scripts were, in the main, of poor quality. The one-act play, Bright Society by Cherry Vooght, had little in the script to commend it and at times the cast had to compete with conversations taking place in the bar area.
There is obviously much talent within the cast and they did their best with the material but the production lacked the "umph" that is so necessary for a successful comedy show. I know that the Lowton Society is capable of producing to a high standard - witness my reports on Guys & Dolls, A Musical Celebration and Return to the Forbidden Planet - and I am sure that the pendulum can swing back.
VIVA MEXICO
St. Thomas' AD & OS, Golborne
Producer: Alison Sheridan
Musical Director: Nancy Wells
A bright and colourful performance of this show with younger members to the fore in the minor principal roles. Comedy was in the capable hands of the youthful duo of Jonathan Kennedy and Michael Cash as Pablo & Pepe. Ashley Brana was a villainous Capt. Lopez with Matthew Lee as his underling, Sergeant Bernardo, and Kristian Hillman was the larger-than-life revolutionary Mendoza.
Rose Hatton was well cast as Mama Inez as were Sarah Hutchinson and Sarah Edwards as Lola and Casilda respectively.
Louise Phelan was a lively Raquelita partnering Gary Williams as Ramon in some well sung duets. Chris Blake as the Senator together with Leanne Kennedy as his daughter Lucille both performed well.
The music, which is mainly a compilation of Latin-American songs, moved at a good pace with a spectacular Aztec Temple scene choreographed by Aimee Scally.
The sets were to the usual high standard with principals' costumes by Homburgs and chorus costumes by Freda Thompson.
The Society is to be congratulated for encouraging their youngsters by casting them to good effect in roles usually allocated to older members and also for securing hall sponsorship from local businesses for each performance which is no mean feat these days.
Thank you for your customary welcome and hospitality which was repaid in some small measure by Elva doing some last-minute sewing and yours truly helping to repair a piece of stage jewellery!
DIAL 'M' FOR MURDER
Centenary Theatre Company
Director: Sheila Cummins
For their first play at the new Brindley Theatre, Centenary chose a well known thriller which became famous following the Hitchcock film version starring Grace Kelly and Ray Milland. Well known it may be, but this performance kept their audience riveted to their seats such was the atmosphere created in this excellent production.
The set which which was designed by the director and constructed by society members and friends was magnificent in every detail and was complemented by the superb lighting provided at the Brindley.
The five characters in the play were brilliantly portrayed; the scheming husband Tony Wendice by NODA award winner Mark Murphy, his two-timing wife Sheila Wendice by Jane Rigby, Philip Croft as the small-time crook, Captain Lesgate, who was blackmailed into committing murder but finished up dead, Daniel Grimes as Max Halliday the thriller writer in love with Sheila, and Rob Gregory as the archetypical Police Inspector Hubbard.
Centenary have received many plaudits for all aspects of their productions and this, their latest, ranks among the best I have seen from them.
CRAZY FOR YOU
Congleton AOS
Director & Choreographer: Eric Pover
Musical Director: Ian Pickford
A magnificent production of the all singing - all dancing musical with sterling performances by Fiona O'Connor as Polly Baker, the post-mistress of Deadrock Nevada, and Paul Dean-Lewis as Bobby Child, a young man who wanted nothing more than to dance in musical theatre.
Having followed the progress of Fiona (née Walker) from her being an eight year old junior dancer, I can honestly say that this was the best performance of her career to date both in the dancing and vocal departments. She was ideally partnered by newcomer Paul whose airline job has recently brought him into the area. Their solos and duets were outstanding in every detail.
But this was far from a two-person show. There were superb performances from Pam Anstice as Mrs Lottie Child, the domineering business minded mother of Bobby, Bernard Rushton as her business assistant Perkins, Richard Wain as the Broadway producer Bella Zangler and Emma Castle as Irene Roth, the fiancée of Bobby - that is until he met Polly!
When Bobby was sent to Deadrock, Nevada with his mother's orders to foreclose the Gaiety Theatre he met not only Polly but her father, Everett Baker, the owner of the theatre, convincingly portrayed by David Martin and Lank Hawkins, the saloon proprietor equally well played by Craig Young. There were delightful over-the-top performances by Reg Tolladay and Yvonne Tilley as a pair of English tourists.
The Follies Girls and Cowboys plus the chorus were brilliant and the entire show bristled with vigorous singing and dancing routines by a cast with an amazing depth of talent accompanied at a cracking pace by a fine band. Costumes by Ian Stead, stage sets by Border Studios, sound by HSL and lighting by D & B Entec all combined to complement a most memorable evening's entertainment.
Congratulations to all concerned.
I was sorry to learn that MD Ian Pickford had not been in the best of health recently and I join his colleagues in wishing him a speedy and complete recovery.
OKLAHOMA!
Knutsford AOS
Producer: Anne Hooker
Musical Director: David Court
Choreographer: Helen Bates
This was a pleasing production of this well known show with good performances by Claire Pilkington and Peter Freeman as Laurey and Curly. Julie Gaskell sparkled as Ado Annie - a role she relishes - and Edward Livesley did well as Will Parker. The roles of Ali Hakim and Andrew Carnes were in the safe hands of society stalwarts Ron McCormick and Jim Dakin with Barbara Fuller making a fine Aunt Eller. The gigantic Tony Barrow was just right as Jud Fry and the remaining minor principal roles were well played.
The dancing and chorus routines moved at a good pace and the lighting effects complemented the minimalistic stage settings, especially the Smoke House scene which was most realistic.
I was sorry to learn that the Knutsford High School will not be available for future productions by the society. I hope that a new location capable of accommodating sizeable sets and audiences will soon be found.
THE WIZARD OF OZ
Vale Royal AOS
Producer: Ellan Williams
Musical Director: Eileen Stringer
Choreographer: Steve Coles
This adaptation by Frank Gabrielson of the well known story was interesting and lively. The familiar characters of Dorothy (Tracy Grant), Scarecrow (Alan Cooper), Tin Man (Steve Coles) and the Cowardly Lion (Michael Wright) were portrayed convincingly and were backed by the various minor characters and chorus, all of whom gave good performances with nicely choreographed routines.
The well-known songs associated with this show were well sung plus one that I don't recall having heard previously, 'Evening Star', which was delightfully sung by Dorothy, Gloria (Emma Johnson) and the ladies' chorus.
The production was enhanced by good sets from Borders, fine costumes by the society's own hard working team and the customary tuneful trio.
This was one of the best productions I have seen by the VRAOS in recent years and was the result of a lot of hard work by all concerned.
FAWKES THE QUIET GUY
by Kjartan Poskitt
Burtonwood Amateur Music & Drama Society
Director: Graham George Marsh
Producer: Brian Maffitt
Musical Director: Sid Houghton
Choreographer: Jean Borgerson
A more appropriate choice of show to perform on Bonfire Night would be hard to imagine. A joint celebration of the society's twenty-first anniversary, the 400th anniversary of the Parish of Burtonwood coinciding with the 400th anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot made this a natural choice.
Having seen a couple of performances of the author's earlier history lesson-cum-musical, Henry the Tudor Dude, I was curious as to how he would deal with the portrayal of the events of November 1605 and the Catholic/Protestant antagonism of the day. The answer, in one word, brilliantly.
With over forty named characters it is a big cast show it is to the credit of the society that this was achieved with a mixture of well costumed adult and junior performers and the absolute minimum of doubling up.
The action took place in numerous locations varying from Mrs Fawkes' living room, Lord Mounteagle's House in Hoxton, The Palace, The Tower and the King's Boudoir but mainly in "Catesby's Cabaret Club" all of which were convincingly depicted by simple but most effective scene changes.
Space does not permit the accreditation of the individual performances - sufficient to say that this was a first class all-round performance by all concerned and was a credit to the Society. The music, which was all new to the ear, was bright and tuneful and moved at a good pace as did the choreography.
Thank you for an entertaining evening and your kind hospitality. Here's to the next 21 years - who knows, there may yet be someone who enters Parliament with a better idea than Guy Fawkes!
CALAMITY JANE
Zodiac AOS
Producers: Valerie Ball and Carmel Leather
Musical Director. Peter England
Choreographers: Vicki Partheyjohns and Jean Williams
I was surprised to learn that the Zodiacs had not previously performed Calamity in its 36 years history, an omission that was corrected in a magnificent manner with this production which was not without its problems for the first-time production team.
For the past few shows the society has recruited members of the orchestra from the Band of the Prince of Wales Division (Clive) but shortly before the production they became unavailable due to a military posting. So, at a late stage (if you will pardon the pun) Peter England came galloping up with his magnificent Manchester Musicals Group Orchestra providing excellent accompaniment to a sparkling show.
In the title role Jennifer Ball gave a superb performance as the gun-toting Calam, partnered ideally by Tim Jones as Wild Bill Hickock. Fine all-round support came from Joe Youds as the perpetually harassed Henry Miller, Bredgeen Smyth as Katie Brown and Mike Howard as Lt Danny Gilmartin. Vicky Jones was a charming Susan partnering the song and dance man Francis Fryer - later to appear as song and dance girl Frances Fryer - admirably played by Aaron Cawley who in addition to performing on stage was the show's production manager and designer.
The part of Adelaide Adams was nicely portrayed by Andrea Jones and there was a scene-stealing performance of Rattlesnake by Roy Youds.
Homburgs' costumes, Prosceneium's scenery, Howorth-Wrightson's properties and lighting by VME all combined to set off a show that provided packed houses with a fine evening's entertainment. There was certainly no dead wood on this stage! Congratulations all round.
PETER PAN
Centre Stage Youth Theatre Company, Congleton
Directors: Katrina Watson & Gareth Castle
Musical Director: Neil Garbett
Choreographer.. Hannah McAllister
In common with most youth theatre groups Centre Stage suffers the loss of many of the experienced players around the age of seventeen when they move on to Universities and Colleges, but this loss did not affect the standard of this production one iota. The younger members came to the fore in a magnificent performance of Piers Chater- Robinson's adaptation of J. M. Barrie's well known story of the little boy who did not wish to grow up.
In the title role Silas Elliott, who is not yet eleven years old, endeared himself to young and old alike with a faultless performance of singing and acting that bodes well for his future as did Jessica Aartse-Tuyn in the role of Wendy. The remainder of the Darling family, Chris Littler as Mr (also doubling as the Indian Chief) Sasha Pattison-Tadman as Mrs plus Jordan Harding-Pointon as Michael and Jack Green as John all gave excellent performances. Lucy Richards was delightful as the fairy Tinker Bell, Helen Briggs was an effervescent Tiger Lily and Tom Pear was a powerful and threatening Captain Hook.
The cast included minor principal roles too numerous to mention individually - each being portrayed admirably - but I must remark on the performance of Simon Richards who had the audience in stitches as Nana - the most lovable Saint Bernard imaginable!
The settings, lighting and costumes were all first class and I must pay a special tribute to MD Neil Garbett, who stepped into the breach only three weeks before the show, and his band for the lively accompaniment.
This production well deserved the sell out performances it achieved and was a credit to all concerned.
ANYTHING GOES
Alderley & Wilmslow AOS
Director: Ryan Ellershaw
Musical Director: Brian Goodwin
Choreographer: Sally-Ann Fitzgerald.
This was a lively and colourful production with good all-round performances from principals and chorus alike.
Tina Lynn added the role of Reno Sweeny to her growing list of successes, Michael Daws made a fine Billy Crocker and Ali Davenport was delightful in the role of Hope Harcourt. Phil Mason was the complete upper class twit as Sir Evelyn Oakleigh both in appearance and performance.
Making her debut with A&WAOS Olga Buckley successfully reprised the role of Mrs Wadsworth T Harcourt that she performed ten years ago with Macclesfield Majestic Theatre Group and society stalwart Bob Chaloner was the progressively inebriated Elisha J Whitney.
Comedy galore was in the very capable hands of Ali Gorton and Ric Hazelwood as Bonnie and Moonface Martin.
Reno's four angels, Charlotte Fellows (Charity), Jenny Campbell (Purity), Rosie Campbell (Chastity) and Jemma Taylor (Virtue) together with the dancers and chorus performed brightly choreographed routines at a good pace with tuneful accompaniment from the back-stage orchestra.
I felt that some of the minor scene changes in Act I could have been accomplished without drawing the house tabs as the breaks in the action diverted attention from what is essentially a fast moving show.
I was sorry to learn that the local Borough Council is proposing to relocate the theatre facilities of the Evans Theatre sited within the Wilmslow Leisure Centre to a school which, if carried through, will leave Wilmslow devoid of live theatre premises. I wish the Society well in its efforts to have this undesirable development rescinded.