mannerisms of the characters, resulting in some excellent performances. There was an excellent set, making full use of the small stage. Revolves were used to good effect and the use of the auditorium as an extension to the playing area worked well. Scene changes, carried out by the cast in low light, were achieved efficiently and quietly. The appearance of the train at the end of Act 1 was delightful, as was the final lighting effect on Mrs Gray in the train window. The period music between scenes worked well. Uniforms and other costumes were representative of the period. Hair styles and wigs seemed good but, in a period piece, men with pony tails need to hide them well. This show was well structured, particularly with the appearance of the ladies in the second piece. The ‘Floral Dance’ scene was a real crowd pleaser; well-directed and performed with good energy. At other times though, the production would have benefited from more pace. St Austell AOS 42ND STREET Tuesday 12th April 2011 Producer/Director: Diane Collings Musical Director: Anna Minear Choreographer: Maureen Pascoe Keay Theatre, St Austell This show needs to be performed with pace and energy, and this was certainly the case here. Instead of the usual voice-over lines at the start, the show opened with the actors coming into the auditorium and playing the lines in front of the stage. This made good use of the more senior members of the company, whose tap dancing skills were not quite sufficient for the energetic opening number. This is primarily a show for a young cast, so I must congratulate the Director on integrating the senior cast members into as much of the action as possible. Costumes seemed right for the period; although some of the shorts worn in the rehearsal scenes were too modern. The costumes and head-dresses in the ‘Dames’ number were superb, as were the finale costumes. The orchestra was excellent and played a major part in the success of this show. The principal parts were all played with conviction and believable relationships were created, particularly between Peggy Sawyer and Julian Marsh. The chorus girls Annie, Phyllis and Lorraine created a lot of energy and helped to drive the pace in the ensemble scenes. American accents were well maintained and diction was good. The choreography was not over-complicated and was performed with great energy. Newquay AOS ACORN ANTIQUES THE MUSICAL Thursday 21st April 2011 Producer/Director: Sandra Harris Musical Director: Chris Bennett Choreographer: Sarah Adams Tretherras School, Newquay This show was a real treat. A witty script, catchy songs, lively dance routines and some superb performances all combined to produce a thoroughly entertaining evening. The opening dance number was tightly choreographed and performed, but would have been improved by more smiles! The opening scene outside the shops would have benefited from a little more attack, but the show came alive when we entered the shop and became acquainted with the well-drawn characters. A show of this kind, which is a very tongue-in-cheek spoof, needs to be played with complete conviction if it is to work, and that was certainly the case here. Choreography was good, particularly the tap number in Act 1 which was performed with great energy and enthusiasm. The band complimented the singing well, but never overwhelmed it. There were some lovely directorial touches, for example the flashbacks into Mrs O’s past, and the bringing on of the large TV screen. The set was well constructed and in keeping with the spoof nature of the show. Some of the scene changes were a little on the long side, but were performed with minimal fuss and noise by the backstage crew. Truro AODS CALAMITY JANE Wednesday 15th June 2011 Producer/Director: Chas Rimmer Musical Director: Olwynne Hutt Choreographer: Nicky Stevens Trelissick Gardens, Truro There can’t be many people who don’t enjoy this show – thin on plot but packed full of great, familiar songs and memorable characters, it is perfect light, outdoor entertainment for a summer’s evening. This production opened before the overture even began, with the cast entering from different directions, placing us firmly in the ‘wild west’, creating characters and stories. The opening number was tight and lively and grabbed our attention. The ensemble scenes were well-played with good interaction and story-telling. Chorus singing was excellent, in particular ‘Adelaide’ and ‘Black Hills of Dakota’ which were beautifully performed. Choreography was effective and performed with obvious enjoyment by the small group of dancers. Scene changes were mostly undertaken by the cast, and this worked well, in particular the changing of the banner above the ‘stage’. Costumes and props all looked authentic and worked well, apart from one or two occasions when the gun didn’t fire. Ensemble members with lines need to be aware of the need to really project their lines in order to match the level of the principals. The horse noises off were very convincing. Lighting was minimal and unobtrusive, and just right for a light, summer evening. Thank you for a lovely evening’s entertainment.
Luxulyan Amateur Dramatic Society WHERE WHITE GULLS FLY Three One-act Plays by Christine Woolf Kathy West Director: Diana Lucas How nice it was to see these Cornish one-act plays – written and set in Cornwall, and with excellent Cornish accents! The plays were well chosen to provide an evening of contrasts for audience and cast. ‘A Fall of Snow’ was set in the harsh winter of 1814, when a group of travellers are stranded at an isolated inn. It was an ensemble piece which allowed each actor to shine. There was a slight insecurity of lines, both here and the subsequent two plays, but this was understandable considering the late re-casting following the indisposition of a cast member. ‘Amazons in Kenwyn’ was a darker piece, set in the Poorhouse. It was lovely to see the Society’s younger members playing the poorhouse children. The song at the beginning of this play, performed by the two lead actresses was beautifully sung. The relationship between these two ‘sisters’ was very believable and the final defiant speech was very moving. ‘Below Stage’ was the comedy piece and gave the actors the chance to perform in quite a different style. Again, we were treated to some lovely singing at the start and during this song there was some well-managed silent business as the actors set the scene. The characters were well established, but the set design and restricted space led to some masking. This was a challenging project and I commend you for undertaking it – I can always rely on LADS to try something different! Thank you for the invitation, and congratulations to all concerned. Callington Amateur Drama Society CASH ON DELIVERY 30th June 2011 Director: David McCarroll This was a well directed production. The Director made good use of the comedy and exploited the script well. There were plenty of nice touches, and some excellent performances. The action built well, culminating in a hysterical scene between Eric and Ms Cowper in Act 2. The set appeared to be rather sparsely furnished, but this was understandable given the need for so many doors! The sofa was placed left of centre and although there were times when it masked the action behind it, on such a small stage this was inevitable. There was a lot of complicated business, which for the most part worked well. Getting the ‘body’ from the window seat was cleverly masked by the action in front, and though I intended to watch for it, I still missed it, so engrossed was I in the dialogue! The cast worked well together as a team, creating honest and believable relationships. Timing and rhythm were good, and pace was excellent until the last 15 minutes, when there seemed to be a slight loss of rhythm. Overall though, the energy and commitment from the cast was very good. Thank you for inviting us, and for the backstage tour after the show.
DISTRICT 3 - PLYMOUTH & WEST DEVON MR. MICHAEL SIMPSON Plymouth Gilbert & Sullivan Fellowship PIRATES OF PENZANCE Thursday 3rd March 2011 Producer/Director: Alan Spencer Musical Director: Jane Warwick Choreographer: Alan Spencer Devonport Playhouse, Plymouth It speaks volumes for the popularity of Gilbert and Sullivan that a Society can have a complete sell-out and the audience, young and old hums along with the overture. ‘Pirates’ is perhaps the most popular of the Savoy Operas, due in no small part to the professional tours. This was a superb production with a wonderful cast that sang and danced through the well known musical numbers with musicality and ability. The main characters were well cast no weak links. Of course the part of the Pirate King is a gift and was played to the hilt (no pun intended). Frederick was ably accompanied by the lovely singing of Mabel. Another part, played in true Keystone cops style, was the Sergeant of Police who had the audience in gales of laughter at their antics. The biggest laugh however came with the line “For all their faults we love our house of peers”. A sympathetic Orchestra, beautiful costumes and a stunning set designed and built by Andy Martin lent itself to the strict dimensions of the stage. Without a doubt this was a most wonderful evening’s entertainment. GADZOOKS ALL THIS AND HEAVEN TOO / THE REAL INSPECTOR HOUND Friday 25 March 2011 Producers/Directors: Sam Grayston & Mark Storey Muse Theatre, Lipson College, Plymouth The first of these two one act plays was written and directed by Sam Grayston. As stated in the programme they both have the common roots in the Italian Commedia dell’Arte; a form of very popular street theatre which pointed fun at familiar characters and situations. In this first play we have a situation between God and Lucifer vying for the soul of the yet to die Ian, who is the subject of an unhappy marriage. When he promptly commits suicide Lucifer thinks he has won, however, God has an escape plan for Ian to return back to earth and resume his life. Undaunted by God’s scheme, Lucifer has his assistant hire a Hitman to get him back but he is so inept he fails miserably and Ian dies from a heart attack. Returning to Heaven, Lucifer concedes defeat. During all this, God and Lucifer are gambling on who will win and being served Gin and Tonics by Gods P/A. All the characters were well defined and their delivery of the comic lines was timed with excellence. The set for this play was very minimalist but enough to create the correct atmosphere along with the suitable lighting. The second of the two plays was written by Tom Stoppard and co-Directed
by Mark Storey and Sam Grayston. As the play opens there is a body lying on the stage and as the individual characters appear they just step over it as if it wasn’t there. The link in all that goes on is Mrs Drudge, who was excellent and maintained her character throughout. Above the main area of the stage are two men sitting in what appear to be theatre seats as though watching the story unfold. I thought them to be theatre critics but towards the end they step down into the playing area and one declares himself to be “The Real Inspector Hound”. Anyone who knows Tom Stoppard’s work will appreciate how well he defines his characters and this group did his play full justice. This is not a large company so the people who were in the first play also appeared in this one, taking on different personae with ease. I had the pleasure of attending the first readings for these plays and I thought then I would not be disappointed and I am delighted to say I wasn’t. A very talented young company! Sounds Musical Theatre Company OKLAHOMA! Reviewed by Nick Lawrence on Friday 8 April 2011 Producer/Director: Amanda Paddison Musical Director: Jenny George Choreographer: Carole Wilson Devonport Playhouse, Plymouth This story of youthful enthusiasm for the future demands a great deal of energy. Hammerstein was insistent that the story telling aspect of the book was most important and that dialogue and music should be interlinked. This was successfully achieved although the often pedestrian speed of the music led to some very pedantic dialogue. The excellent principals all sang well and they were well supported by beautiful ensemble work. It was good to hear the fabulous melodies sung so well. Pleasant choreography drew the eye, and the subtle inclusion of the youthful dancers into the scenes prevented that awful moment of the out of context arrival of the troupe. As expected Andy Martin provided a very imaginative set which was innovative and made best use of the space. Costumes were colourful, but reflected the period and the status of the characters. Particularly impressive for me was the inclusivity of the production. There were no hangers on, and no one sidelined. “Oklahoma!” is very much a show for the principals, with the company, so important to the show’s message, given little opportunity to get into its stride. It is vital that the ensemble makes a quick impression and this was generally successful. This was a fitting celebration on achieving your Centenary. City of Plymouth Theatre Company THE PRODUCERS Thursday 12 May 2011 Producer/Director: Angela Collins Musical Director: Brian Gerry Choreographer: Angela Collins Devonport Playhouse, Plymouth Congratulations to the company for choosing this show, it is a quite Risqué script and I am sure they must have had some reservations about how their audiences would receive it. Never having seen the show myself it was marvellous to watch with an open mind. I don’t think I have ever seen an audience laughing from start to finish during a Musical but, with a script by Mel Brooks and marvellous performers it was a breath of fresh air. Not only was this poking a lot of fun at the rise of Adolph Hitler but also at the shenanigans of Broadway producers. I know that intense rehearsals were undertaken by the cast and it showed in the slickness and fast pace of the show. The singing and dancing could not be faulted and the Orchestra was excellent. The costumes were absolutely correct for the period. The set by Andy Martin allowed for seamless changes and the lighting and sound complimented the whole production. Had I been able I would have gone back the following night to see it all again. One final comment … WONDERFUL! MultiStarz Amateur Theatre Company SUMMER DELIGHTS Thursday 9 June 2011 Producer/Director: Susan Parish Choreographer: Sammy Jo Murphy Devonport Playhouse, Plymouth With songs from shows and some old and new music, this production gave the majority of the cast an opportunity to shine. It was augmented by dancers both senior and junior with a lovely solo dance in contemporary tap. The cast so obviously enjoyed performing showstoppers from Chicago, South Pacific, The Rocky Horror Show as well as many others. There were many soloists who were all in good voice and the selection of music gave performers of all age groups the chance to perform. Minimal use of stage dressing was compensated by attractive lighting and some very nice costumes. Although the music was taped, the cast worked well and kept very good time. The very young people who I thought were enjoying their first taste of stage performing did very well and I am sure they will progress as they gain experience. A Revue is a difficult genre to put together but Susan Parish did an excellent job of a varied selection of numbers to keep the audience attention. To finish with the Rocky Horror Show was such a good idea and most of the audience were singing along to “The Time Warp” and I am sure they went home, as I did, humming the song in my head. The only negative I have to say about this production is that I felt it needed a little tightening up as there were occasions when we were left with a blank stage. Well done to all for a good evening’s entertainment.
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