Year

September 2006 - Region 6 - Colin Magenty

MY FAIR LADY

Adlington Music and Arts

Director: Mark Rosenthal
Musical Director: Steven Sandiford
Choreographer: Ms Z. Tompkins

The set took a little getting used to, as it was a take off of the 1992 production which was directed by Simon Callow and starred Edward Fox.
This set had sounds and words on the walls, which meant that the period was set by the furniture and the costumes. The music was in the safe hands of Steven Sandiford and he did not disappoint.

Eliza was played by Becki Charnley who was very impressive. Joe Simmons was a foggy Pickering and gave an endearing performance. Philip May gave the part of Higgins his own interpretation, and this too came across.

Sharon Morris was a delight as the housekeeper Mrs. Pearce, and Mrs. Higgins was a nice cameo role for Gill Brown. Doolittle was played by Chris Higgins and his two energetic sidekicks played by Richard Leigh and Stephen Glenn.

These where well supported by a good chorus of servants

Although not hitting the heights of the last production it was still a very enjoyable evening.

42nd STREET

Chorley A.D.O.S.

Director: Sean Duxbury
Musical Director: Stewart Bell
Choreographer: Julie Norris /Lesley Nicholson

What a joy to hear a full orchestra in the pit - just what was needed for this show! Add to that some good choreography and you have the beginnings of a good show - and this was good. The set worked most of the time and was effective in the "Dames" number.

Dorothy Brock was played extremely well by Kim Bookfield, as was the role of Julian Marsh; it was nice to see Dave Muaghan playing a serious role for a change and he did it justice. Sarah Hunter's Peggy Sawyer grew on me and by the last speech with Julian I was sold. Well done!

Her side kicks played by Lorranine Sullivan, Lesley Nicholson, Louise Prescott and not forgetting Cassandra Moon and Zoe Duffin.all made the dance numbers buzz. Congratulations, girls.

Allan Mayer coped well with the role of Pat Denning and Alan Pearson gave us a splendid cameo as Abner Dillon. Debbie Smith was Maggie Jones and her writing partner Bert was played by John Sangster who handled his number "Shuffle Off to Buffalo" which was performed with Annie, with aplomb.

WEST SIDE STORY

Birkdale Orpheus Society

Director :Les Gomersall
Musical Director: Pete Scholes
Choreographer: Karen Edge

This was a good production, The Choreography was excellent which is essential with this show and with Karen Edge in charge there was no doubt that was what was delivered - and we had a super set to boot! Although the music was well played, it was too loud on its entries for me and I would have preferred an orchestra but having said that it did not reduce my enjoyment to any large degree.

Matt Casson as Tony was a very good example of the quality of the cast. Maria, played by the ever youthful Liz Clarke, and Rebecca Casey who played Anita both gave admirable performances. We saw a strong interpretation of Bernardo from David Cox and a wonderful cameo from Heather Lewis as the tomboy Anybody's. The chorus and dancers were on top form. All in all this was a production of which the society can be justly proud. It was a piece of superb theatre.

THIRD WEEK IN AUGUST

Derby Players

Director: Peter Mercer

Being the owner of a caravan I was interested to see how they would get a van on stage. they didn't - but they did get on part of one - and it look perfect. The set was very good and so too was the play. It was one I had not seen before and it had a very funny script.

We have the couple who come every year, during the third week in August, to the same caravan site: Kate Ratoff (as the woman who knows best and sometimes does, but not always!) and Malcolm Thompson as the man who bores everyone and knows the best way of doing everything. A lovely couple and anyone who as toured with a van will, at some point, have encountered both of them. With them the wife's sister, played well by Carol Kennedy, as a newly divorced woman looking for the next victim. Sue played by Jane Edge is the innocent caught between a divorced man played very well by Graham Hignett (except he must get out of the habit of standing with his hands in his pockets!). his partner, played superbly by Jacqui Padden, and his children (never seen).

Apart from a little hesitance at times the pace was good. In all it was an enjoyable evening.

THE SECRET GARDEN

Waterloo and Crosby Theatre Company

Director: Neil Williams
Musical Director: Charles Moss

This relatively new musical has a certain charm, possibly because its central character is a little girl called Mary Lennox.

It is not an easy show to put on with many scenes and a chorus, which, when done by the R.S.C., was dispensed with, as they can hold up and confuse the audience. On the whole the production was ok. but I do think that the scene changes could have been done more effectively with lighting so the changes could have been less conspicuous.

We had some extremely good performances from the principals, in particular, Brian Tubb as Archibald Craven, Cerys Buck as Martha and a wonderful singing performance from Lesley Smith - even more impressive when I learned she stepped in late during rehearsals! Ian Dunning played the villain of the piece and Sam Denia did well with the role of Colin.

We had two further cameos, Roy Hartley as Ben the gardener and Dickon played by Matthew Martin - both very well done indeed.

I started by mentioning the character of Mary Lennox; this was played by Rebecca Marston-Evans. Her voice, both acting and singing, was enchanting and will shortly be treading the boards with a pro show in Liverpool and this I can well understand. I wish her all the best. Her performance here was spot on. This for me was a very enjoyable production of a very difficult show - my congratulations to all.

SEUSICAL THE MUSICAL

S.O.N.G

Director: Wendy Weldon
Choreographer: Joyce Court
Musical Director: Peter Scholes

A new musical is always a joy. And this was no exception and to boot it was very well done. The show, based on the works of Dr Seuss was a quick moving production with some excellent choreography.

All the principals and chorus worked well as a team and it would be wrong to single any one performance out - but I will! Andrew Mackley as the Cat in the Hat was superb and gave the show the continuity it had to have, as he linked the scenes together, never loosing the character once.
After seeing this show, any other society considering doing it will have to have three things - and these are what this cast had; stamina, enthusiasm, and a production team to hit the same heights.

OLIVER!

Maghull Musical Theatre Company

Directed and Choreographed by Betty Hall
Assisted by Elaine Cox & Ian Culshaw
Musical Director Richard Winter

This production of Oliver! had many enjoyable and well-choreographed scenes, good characters, an excellent orchestra under the baton of Richard Winter and some well rehearsed dialogue. Most of the action went smoothly but various scenes tended to fade towards the end and others were slow to start. For example, the impact of the opening of Act Two, the rowdiness and atmosphere of the 'Three Cripples' was completely lost by the cast being on stage with open tabs, waiting for the audience members to return to their seats.

Charlie McMullan as Oliver gave a memorable performance. He captivated the audience throughout. Andrew Parry as the Artful Dodger gave an agreeable performance but he needed to attack the role with more physical energy to give the role of Dodger his more precocious and cheeky disposition.
Helen Illingworth played Nancy. Her characterisation held true throughout her performance, but the striking red dress was far too immaculate. Her singing, especially of 'As Long As He Needs Me' is to be commended.

Adrian Roberts as Fagin played the role with skill. It could have been enhanced by him showing more signs of a doting foster father to the gang, but Adrian came into his own with his 'Reviewing the Situation'. Neil Butler gave a first-rate performance as Bill Sykes. He encouraged fiery dramatic scenes, notably in the 'Three Cripples', giving plenty of dynamics to the dialogue - even the dog barked on cue! Other characters were well cast and gave commendable support as the story unfolded. Full marks go to Tony Adamson who took the dual roles of a kindly Mr Browniow and in contrast, sinister Mr Sowerberry. It was a little disappointing that Sally Lane as Mrs Sowerberry didn't play the play in the same ilk, to make a sinister pair.

Visually the production looked professional, with good scenery and excellent costumes. The large cast of 23 children and 26 adults played with enthusiasm most of the time. However, when everyone was on stage, it appeared overcrowded for too much of the time. On occasions, fewer people in each scene would have presented more effective staging. Verbal reaction by the crowd would have also helped to enliven some of the scenes.

Overall this was an enjoyable production, supported by a fine orchestra and staged by an obviously enthusiastic theatre company.

(Barbara Worrall)

The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen's
Guild Dramatic Society Murder Mystery

Chorley A.D.O.S

Director: Brainne Edge

This cross between Coarse Acting and something Michael Frayne could have written does not better either. After the first part, it is more of the same, and has to be done for real to be funny otherwise it comes across as someone trying to be funny and does not work as it should. Having said that this production did have some nice moments and some enjoyable performances.

John Griffin played the lone male in a cast of eleven female caricatures even if these were played by a mere four ladies. Renee Clitheroe gave us a lovely link lady in the way of Mrs Reece and a striking French maid among others. The antics of Sue Hilton as the Butler and Kathleen Ashworth as her several ladies brought guffaws of laughter to an audience hit by the things going on in Germany.

The ever youthful Karen Thompson was spot on as Daphne. and her duo with Kathleen Ashworth as Joan and Rose was hilarious. There is nothing harder to do than comedy and this was a difficult play to do and deserved a bigger audience.

GYPSY

Southport Amateur Operatic Society

Director: Hilary Thompson
Musical Director: Jeff Rimmer
Choreographer: Nicki Denis

This is not the easiest of shows to produce because of the large number of scene changes and at the same time keep the momentum going, and in this they succeeded. The pace of the show was good, the orchestra was excellent as we have come to expect from Jeff Rimmer, and the dance numbers well conceived and executed. I only had one quibble with the way the opening scene was done but having discussed this with the director I understand the problem and I would have maybe done the same. The problem with flimsy walls!!!

This show has a cast of, I was going to say thousands but it does have 34 and many have only small scenes but when you have very experienced people playing these it makes it much easier on the main principals. Oh, and did we have some lovely cameos: David Charters as Pop, Steve Pritchard as Kringelein and Paul Edge as several well drawn portrayals including Cigar and Weber?

The three strippers have one of the most well known numbers and we were in for a treat with Katie Watkinson, Louise Webster and Stef Vérité not disappointing with their own interpretation of 'You Gotta Get a Gimmick'.
The young and older dancers were excellent and I particularly liked the performance of Jo Howarth as June as I did that of Rebecca Casey who once again gave a top drawer performance as Louise.

Although small in stature Rose was just right. June Wilson's voice may not be as strong as it might have been but she never lost the character, her acting was spot on.

With a part not as large as Rose but very important is that of Herbie and this was a superb characterisation by Don Sewell and I could not fault this man's performance, his singing was a delight.

My congratulations to all this large and talented cast.

BUGSY MALONE

Chorley Youth Theatre

Director: Lorraine Sullivan /Lesley Nicholson
Musical Director: Judith Holt

This show is an ideal one for a youth theatre, but a nightmare to stage. This was a good shot at it, even if it was raw at the edges sometimes but the children were great and obviously enjoyed the experience.

Fizzy sang his song well, and the duo of Smolsky and O'Dreary played by Jonathon Monks and Aaron Hobin received plenty of laughter each time they appeared. Fat Sam and Tallulah were played by Samuel Thuston and Anna McGarr. A bit more padding would have possibly have given Sam a figure to match his name and Anna looked the part.

The two main roles I must admit were played with sincerity and skill. Matthew Crow was Bugsy and was very good although at first I missed some of his delivery because of his accent but he improved. But for me the acting ability of Amy Sumner was there to see from her first line, the feeling, the thought behind every line came across loud and clear. This was a splendid performance, extremely well done.

Well done to the enthusiastic supporting cast and well done the to the production team.

BREEZEBLOCK PARK

Too Friendly Theatre Company

Director: Cliff Giles

The Too Friendly Theatre Company has established itself as an innovative theatre company and as such has taken the opportunity to perform at the delightful Little Theatre in Southport.

For its debut production the group chose the hilarious social comedy, Breezeblock Park written by Willy Russell. The play takes place in the contrasting council homes of Betty and Reeny and was written originally against a background of social unrest in Northern cities when Mrs Thatcher's Conservative government was at the peak of its power. I couldn't help but feel that some 20 years on and a much altered social landscape, how dated the comedy of the piece actually appeared.

The cast of nine worked as one and the team effort certainly came across, which was good to see. I felt that some of the characterisations were not as Russell intended, with scouse accents appearing forced. I also failed to pick up the intended oneupsmanship between Betty and Reeny. A number of performances did standout, particularly those of Syd (John Winsdor), who played a good downtrodden husband and Vera (Sue Thomas) who never let her brash, outspoken characterisation falter.

The set was well designed and worked well. However I was not convinced that all costume details were of the period; we seemed to have a mixture of '70s, '80s and modern clothing.

On the night I attended, which was the opening performance the play ran until almost 10.40pm. This was an indication of how the delivery lacked pace, an essential component of slick comedy. Many of the comic lines and associated business I felt were laboured and because of this the play lost some if its humour.

It is obvious that the Too Friendly Theatre Company have built up a loyal following and has a range of talents amongst the company. I am sure the move to the Little Theatre will help it to build on its success and enable it to continue to produce a range of innovative and well performed productions.
(Neil Townsend)

BUGSY MALONE

Pilkington Musical Theatre Company

Producer: Katie Speakman
Choreography: Claire Jones

In line with most forward thinking groups, to stay alive in the years to come you need young people coming through and one of the ways is to have a youth section. This was the first production by the youth group and, above all, the children certainly seemed to enjoy their first steps into Amateur Theatre.

With limited facilities the production moved well and whilst all the children gave their best we had some interesting performances, Smolsky and O'Dreary played by Daniel Forshaw and Michael Dutton being two of them. These two certainly grew on the audience and they received their fair share of laughs. A general criticism: although the pace of the show is quick it does not mean you say your lines as quickly as possible, even more so when trying to do an accent because we miss what you say. I'm sure with the guidance from the adults in the group they will soon learn.

Bugsy played by Sean Cranny did well as did Francesa Wellman who was Blousey. Fat Sam (Oliver Adams) dominated all around, as he should, and Alec Walter's Dandy Dan came across well. We had two extremely good performances by Amy Kelly as Tallulah who sang her main number very well and Michael Markey as Fizzy whose dance was impressive. My thanks to all concerned.