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BOOGIE NIGHTS - THE 70’s
MUSICAL
Alderely & Wilmslow M.T.C.
Director
: Ryan Ellershaw
Musical Director
: Mike
Bramhall
Dance Director
: Alex Howarth
Nostalgia is a great person
pleaser and what better era to
take an audience to than the
time of flares, platform shoes
and medallions. This juke box
musical had us all grooving
to “Play That Funky Music”,
“Blame It On the Boogie” and
many many more hits of the 70s.
All this is knitted together with
a story about Roddy and Debs’
relationship – can they both find
what they are truly searching for?
To set the scene we were
frisked at the door, our hands
stamped as in any self-respecting
disco. In the auditorium cast
members met and greeted in
character, and appropriate music
was playing. After a few words
from Baz, the bouncer, David
Massingham, the tabs opened to
reveal a two-level composite set.
The production team generated
a high energy show, which is
needed for this type of musical
theatre. It should never stop,
it should be seamless. It was
a shame there were blackouts
where everything stopped, and
then started up again.
Lighting provided atmosphere
and the sound never interfered.
The costumes, in the main, took
us back to the era. Did we really
look like that? And we thought
we were so funky!
Michael Daws brought all
his experience to the role of
Roddy, the Jack-the-lad. He
moved easily from narrating
to storytelling and handled
the music with ease. Debs, his
girlfriend, played by Alison
Brander, and Clare Andrews as
her friend, Trish, both created
believable characters.
It is Dean who eventually
declares his love and marries
Debs, the twist in the story. Alex
Webb had his moments as the
safe, reliable, Dean. The light
comedy of the piece was nicely
delivered by Max Fone as Terry
and Tina Lynn, as Lorraine.
There were worthy contributions
from Bob Jennings (Spencer) and
Colin Dale (Eamon).
All the scenes came over in
the style of those 70’s sitcoms,
“Robins Nest” and the like.
This added to the nostalgia and
contributed to an evening of
“Boogie Wonderland”.
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
Urmston Musical Theatre
Director
: Christine Meadows
Musical Director
: Ed Nurse
Dance Director
: Sally Wild
This show is not just another
version of Dickens classic. This
musical presents the story using
all the characters, but instead of
the dark ghost story theme, there
is a lighter Disneyesque feel to
the show.
The composite set served the
needs of the production with
two modules stage left and right.
They rotated for changes of
scene and location. There was
a pier that ran from up-centre
stage to centre stage which
split the acting area into two.
At times this hampered the ebb
and flow of the production. The
lighting and the special effects
created the necessary atmosphere
and costumes enhanced the
characterisations.
The production team brought
out all the aspects of this new,
and very enjoyable, Dickensian
musical.
Such a large cast is needed and
to the theatre group’s credit it
was cast from within the society.
The mammoth job of portraying
Scrooge fell to Gary Hocking.
All the changing moods and
musical numbers pushed Gary to
his limits.
Daniel Mellor gave an excellent
rendition of Jacob Marley,
coming up through the stage
from Hades warning Ebenezer he
has to change his ways.
As predicted the phantoms
appeared. They were , Adam
Garnett as Christmas Past; Louis
Potie as Christmas Present and
Maxine Holt as Christmas Yet-to-
Come. All three were convincing
and took the story forward.
Each of the many vignettes
was well presented. The scenes
included the young Scrooge, the
manic Fuzziwigs and the Cratchit
family. Mark Finch captured the
essence of Bob Cratchit along
with Tiny Tim. Yvonne Bissett
and Christine Perry played the
char ladies, Mrs Finch and Mrs
Dilber, and got all the humour
out of their scenes.
To keep the story moving,
narration is needed and
the character of Dickens is
introduced. Ian Darke, as the
great man himself, had the ability
for good theatrical storytelling.
All the other characters, and
the entire ensemble, contributed
to this startlingly fresh musical
which really did “raise the
spirits”.
FRANKENSTEIN THE
PANTO
St. Luke’s Arts & Drama
Society
Director
: Sonia Whittle
Music
: Colin Powell & Paul
Whittle
Dance Director:
Alex Whittle
To present a pantomime
with characters better known
within the House of Horrors
for Halloween week was a wise
move. No wonder this society is
celebrating its 50th birthday.
All the audience, young and
old, were dressed as spooky
characters. This created a great
atmosphere which contributed to
the fun of the show.
After a slow start, the script
picks up and delivers a very
entertaining pantomime. The
story is a simple one: Frankie’s
sister, Heidi, is kidnapped by
the not too scary Dracula and
together they go on a crazy
rescue mission.
All members of the the cast in
the opening did all they could to
move things along. The settings
and costumes gave the piece the
necessary gothic look. The sound
effects were in abundance; every
Agents’ Reviews
Is there a review of your last
show? If not, have you invited
an ACT Agent to visit your
society?
If not, contact
Sarah@actuk.orgto arrange for your production
to be reviewed.