A SLICE OF SATURDAY NIGHT  2000
A Slice of Saturday Night   Back to Top

"Brimming with enthusiasm and talent this show fairly bristles with energy.  The young cast give their considerable all in a high-octane production which is produced, directed and choreographed by Marje Brayshaw.  Her dance sequences are terrific and she intersperses the fast-moving routines with some genuinely moving moments.  The musical has no story to speak of - but lots of sixties sounding songs to make up for that.  It's about young people in the sixties out for a slice of the action on Saturday night at the Club-A-Go-Go.  Owner of the club Eric "Rubberlegs" DeVene, is played with considerable style by John Whitehead.  He comes into his own particularly with Eric's Hokey Cokey Shuffle and Eric's Gonna Keep Doing.  There are touching love scenes and some excellent singing from Natalie Kirkbright as Sharon and Gary Griffin as Rick.  Paul Costello provided much of the comedy as Scouser Eddie. And Costello shows he can put over a song with the best of them and is no slouch on the dance floor either.  Lynda Cartey as the ice maiden Bridget provides an excellent foil for his antics.  Martin Pearce as Gary and Ruth Harris as Sue make a believable couple who break up and are reconciled.  Costumes evoking the sixties era are excellent and Craig Anthony again shows his flair for designing sets which are not only eye-catching but behave themselves beautifully.  It's good to see a society taking a chance with a show which is so different from a traditional musical.  I can't imagine anyone doing it better.

WEST SIDE STORY  1999
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This stunning production of West Side Story is bristling with talent.
Director and choreographer Marje Brayshaw has brought a freshness and vitality to this much loved musical and the energetic dance sequences are a sizzling success.
Steven Sharples' musical direction lifts the production into top gear and he and the large orchestra richly deserved the warm round of applause from the first night audience.
The Albert Hall's stage - notoriously difficult to manage - is transformed by stage manager Craig Anthony.
Sets behaved beautifully - even the bed which had to be brought on and off for some scenes.  I've seen professional productions come to grief with recalcitrant beds, but Anthony and his team had clearly put a great deal of work into streamlining the staging.  I was particularly impressed with the dance at the gym set which was simple by highly effective.
And what a cast!
David Whitehead (Tony) has singing and acting talent in abundance and was well matched by Natalie Kirkbright who was a delightful Maria.  She was incredibly moving in the final death scene.
Connor O' Beirne was excellent as Riff while Ward Croasdale was a scene-stealing Bernardo. Croasdale's lithe movements brought menace to his role as the leader of the Sharks.
As Bernardo's girlfriend Anita, Helen Price Aindow was beautifully cast.  Is there no limit to the variety of roles Price Aindow can tackle?  She was exceptionally good.
Stewart Ball shone in the cameo role of Doc.
Chorus work was terrific.  I particularly enjoyed the America and Gee Officer Krupke routines.
Professional stuntman and fight co-ordinator Paul Flanagan had helped with the fight scenes and it showed.  These were beautifully choreographed.
This show is definitely in the "not to be missed category".  But be warned.  There are few tickets left.

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS
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REVIEW OF LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS

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OKLAHOMA this isn't.  Little Shop of Horrors is a macabre musical and it is easy to understand its attraction for youngsters who perform it in school productions.
There are sick jokes a-plenty, a bloodthirsty plant and a fine disregard for convention.
Bolton Premier did the show full justice despite gremlins in the sound system in the first half.
Adjustments were made during the interval which made for better clarity and there should be no more problems for the rest of the run.
Little Shop is a show that demands a mostly young cast and here the society triumphs.
Connor O Beirne is a terrifically geeky Seymour who yearns for the beautiful Audrey, played by Lisa Nuttall.
Nuttall teetered about in gold high heels and gave a delightful performance as the archetypal dumb blonde, and amalgam of Monroe, Jayne Mansfield and Judy Holiday.  Paul Topham was on form as the handsome, sadistic dentist and Colin Dean gave a polished performance as Mr Mushnik.  Lee Alberts was in fine voice as Audrey II, the talking plant.
Director/Choreographer Craig Anthony has obviously worked his cast hard and brought out the best in them. He's been helped by Musical Director Steven Sharples who inspires a rhythmic tempo.  Full marks too to Chorus Mistress Kath Higson who uses her teams well.  Little Shop is a brave choice for Bolton Premier,  the society may find they will not easily attract the 'musical regulars'.  Certainly there were plenty of empty seats last night.
But it is good to see one of Bolton's foremost societies tackling such a show and I urge those who have not seen this show before to sample Bolton Premier's version.
Like Audrey II you may find you are licking your lips with enjoyment.

LA CAGE AUX FOLLES 1995
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DON'T miss this one!  From the moment the curtain opened the atmosphere was electric as Bolton Premier Amateur Operatic Society presented this marvellous production.  
I've seen openings like it on the professional stage, but until last night I had not seen a large part of the audience rise to its feet in tribute to an amateur show.
La Cage has acquired something of a "cult" status and attracts enthusiastic followers, but that does not wholly explain the warmth and enthusiasm with which this production was received.  
With its less than conventional storyline - a homosexual runs a transvestite club with his partner as the star turn - La Cage would not be first choice for many societies.  But Bolton Premier chose it not only to celebrate their 21st birthday, but as their first show at the Albert Halls. It may not be without significance that this is also the first time the show has been staged in the Bolton area.
The society's daring has paid off handsomely and the result is a tremendous show - funny, outrageous and incredibly moving. Most of the credit for this must go to director and choreographer Marje Brayshaw.  In less sensitive hands, the show might easily slip into sleaze, but there's no hint of this here.
Gillian Streatfield's musical direction adds another touch of class to the production.
The undoubted stars are David Kellie as Georges, the club owner and Colin Dean as his partner Albin who glitters as Zsa Zsa at La Cage.  Both have excellent voices and perception of phrasing for songs plus acting ability.  It's a formidable combination which makes them an unbeatable pair.
The Cagelles are terrific.  It wasn't until the end of the show when they "came out" that I could separate the boys from the girls.  Their singing and dancing was a joy and their costumes breathtaking.
The supporting cast, notably Chris Lunt as Jean-Michel, the son with two mothers - one of them Albin - could not be faulted.
The magnificent number The Best of Times is Now brought the show to a fantastic close.
This show deserves to be a sell-out.  I hope it is.

Bravo for a brave repeat performance

Bolton Premier Amateur Operatic Society's decision to re-stage this show which they
mounted so successfully last year is a brave one.
They are banking on the fact that they
will again pull in the audiences for a musical which has acquired cult status. They deserve to succeed.
Although the award-winning team of Marje
Brayshaw, director and choreographer, Gillian Streatfield, musical director and Alan Parker, Stage manager, is the same, some of the principals and chorus are different.
Last year's production was a hard act to follow. That this current show retains much of the magic is due largely to the talent of Colin Dean as Albin who again manages a potent mix of pathos and comedy as the "wife".
John Peacock is a charming Georges and both performers not only sing well, but sensitively interpret the moving lyrics.
Chris Cooper is an outrageous scene stealer as the butler/maid Jacob and Chris Lunt is a likeable Jean Michel.
As Monsieur and Madame Dindon, Carol Goldsworthy and David Watson are suitably stuffy about the homosexual relationship of Albin and George and the couple's involvement with the notorious La Cage Aux Folles where the boys strut their stuff in dresses.
In the small part of Jacqueline, Doreen Baker is impressive.
The Cagelles - the club's dancers - form an entertaining line-up although this year I found it easier to tell the boys from the girls despite the exotic outfits. But I admit I was not always right.
Scenery and costumes are magnificent. And it was not the society's fault that some of the sound equipment was acting up last night. The performers did well to ignore the gremlins.
Bolton Premier responded to audience demand in re-staging La Cage. Certainly, it is a show which is well worth watching again.

POP WENT THE WAR
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Get ready for a real musical invasion BOLTON Premier AODS are planning a musical invasion of the Albert Halls, Bolton, at the end of next month. Their pro-am production Pop Went the War is described as "a heartwarming, tear jerking, comical night out for all the family.
It sounds like an accurate description of me two-hour show which goes back to the 1940s and celebrates the lives of everyone who contributed to the war effort.
The men of the Home Guard are featured. Then there are the morale-boosting efforts of the star and concert parties who entertained the troops on the front line.
Simulated "air raids" will bring back memories for some and there is music from the Andrew Sisters and Vera Lynn.
Special guest stars will include Peter Graham, one of Britain's leading impersonators of George Formby and Glen Mortimer playing Max Miller. Also on stage will be members of the Art Lester band, The Stardusters who are described as "an absolute must" for Glenn Miller fans. Pop Went the War will be staged on Saturday May 29,at 2.15 and 7.30 pm and on Sunday May 30, at 2.15 and 7.00pm.