ACT in Action Issue 3

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From the Chair
A message from John
I should like to say a big thank you for
all the invitations to your productions. This
enables me to talk to your company to make
sure that you are getting the best out of your
membership.
I also have to say thank you for all your advertisements and
articles in this issue of “ACT in ACTION”. ACT wants to fill
the magazine with content it thinks you want to read.
It really has turned into your magazine; your contributions
have made this possible. The association publication is for its
members by the members. Please keep sending your production
photographs and articles to the editor.
It is very interesting what Steve Cook of “Scenery Hire” has
to say (page 28). He endorses the fact that performing groups
cannot stand alone: they have to share and support each other.
ACT is making this possible with Members’ Day. There can’t
be a better forum for you. The website, your shop window, has
risen to the dizzy heights of 1,900 hits a week. Remember all
the services on the website are part of your membership. In
other words, no charge.
ACT communications can help us to communicate with you.
May I request that when you have your committee meetings
you put ACT on the agenda. It is now time to work together,
to talk to one other, to go and see each other’s shows. When
you do visit, why not introduce yourself and say which society
you are from. I do believe we need to recreate the all-important
family of community theatre.
Enjoy this issue of your magazine which is bigger than ever.,
John
Like all societies, we are always
looking for different ways to ex-
pand our audience base, increase
our membership and to “spread the
word” of the Gilbert and Sullivan
Operettas . Recently we were ap-
proached by Russell Medley, who
was Sale G&S’s first accompanist
way back at the start in 1972, and
is now the permanent Musical
Director of The Lindow Singers
based in Wilmslow, to collaborate
on a concert production of The Pi-
rates of Penzance.
Sale G and S performed Pirates
as its main performance at The
Garrick Theatre, Altrincham and
therefore, were very enthusiastic
in providing all the principals and
boosting The Lindow singers’ cho-
rus with their own members. The
Lindow singers would provide the
Musical Director, accompanist, re-
hearsal space, full chorus, biscuits,
coffee and tea!
At the outset it became clear
that this was really going to work
because of the enthusiasm of the
combined societies. Everyone
mixed really well and Russell’s
enthusiasm was ably supported by
Richard Brocklehurst on the piano.
His attention to detail in the music
and words would have done any
G and S performance of Pirates
proud.
As the concert day drew closer,
Sale G and S’s wardrobe mistress,
Jackie Brooke, assisted by her hus-
band, Ken, arranged full costumes
for all the principals. Because of
their eagerness and focus the col-
laboration between both societies
was beginning to evolve into a
very special concert performance.
On the day of the concert, which
took place at Wilmslow High
School, the dress rehearsal began
at 2 p.m. with everyone keen to
start. It immediately became appar-
ent that the room where the concert
was going to take place had a great
working space for the Chorus and
the audience. This gave the Sale
principals the opportunity also to
involve their own choral members
in action during all the songs.
The dress rehearsal went really
well, with Russell heartily encour-
aging Sale to express their acting
ability and for the Lindow singers
to deliver a lovely concert perfor-
mance of Pirates.
After tea we returned to the
school only to find that our ward-
robe mistress, cheerfully assisted
by Ken again, had not only all the
costumes prepared for the princi-
pals but had also arranged pirates
hats, sashes, policemen’s helmets
for the chorus, and dresses for
the ladies of Sale G and S to en-
hance their presence. This really
was quickly evolving into a semi
staged performance of Pirates!
The audience arrived, expecting
a nice concert performance but it
immediately became apparent,
when the chorus walked in wear-
ing hats and sashes, that they were
in for a real treat.
Pirates began with the open-
ing number involving all the men
(and a few lady tenors) of the cho-
rus singing whilst the Pirate King
(Tony Noden) in full regalia burst
in through the doors on stage left
keenly followed by Samuel (Dave
Hunt), Frederic (Stephen Othen)
and Ruth (Janice Rendel), also in
full dress. For the audience, this
certainly set the tone for the per-
formance they were about to enjoy.
As the operetta proceeded, the Sale
Ladies rushed in from stage right
“climbing over rocky mountains”
in full costume, once again vigor-
ously supported by the wonderful
singing of the ladies of The Lin-
dow Singers. Then Mabel (Helen
Fieldsend), appeared beautifully
singing “Poor Wandering One”.
The concert progressed at a really
nice pace and, not one to miss out
on an entrance, the Major General
(Peter England) entered through
the rear main doors of the hall
bellowing “Yes, yes, I am a Major
General”. This certainly caused a
lovely reaction from the audience
who were thoroughly enjoying
the combined performance.
Part 1 ended with a wonderful
performance of the Act 1 finale
encompassing the beautiful “Hail
Poetry”. The audience loudly ap-
plauded as the principals and cho-
rus left the stage.
Act 2 began with the same
enthusiastic acting and singing
shown in Act 1. The policemen
entering on cue lead by the Ser-
geant of Police (Ken Brooke), and
his little band of policemen, fully
supported by the male chorus of
the Lindow singers performed the
Policemen’s song complete with
all the actions.
At the end of Act 2 the audi-
ence were left wanting more.
The collaboration between both
societies proved to be a resound-
ing success and The Lindow sing-
ers raised significant funds for
their society and made a lovely
donation to Sale G and S,which
was very warmly received. Sale
were also able to “pick up” a few
more members for this year’s
production of The Yeomen of The
Guard.
If you want to know more about
either of these societies or are in-
terested in some form of future
collaboration, here are the links to
their websites through which you
will find all their contact details:
Sale Gilbert & Sullivan Society’s
collaboration with
The Lindow Singers, Wilmslow
by Tony Topping