As the orchestra plays the overture the curtain goes up on a back-projection impression of Tower Bridge. Then through a gauze appears a scene outside Covent Garden – and the North-West’s No. 1 scenery team is showing us once again how the full setting for a major musical can be made by amateurs and afterwards efficiently handled on a school half-stage.
Walmsley Church Operatic Society’s stage staff have been awarded an Oscar for their work in previous shows but their achievements this time exceed anything that has gone before and stage managers of other societies might find a visit to the show at Egerton, Bolton, of great interest to them. They would know, for instance, how the introduction of closed circuit TV to the dressing room has stopped the cast crowding the wings and obstructing stage hands.
It seems too that the enthusiasm of Reg Compton, Peter Smalley and their crew rubs off on the players. No need to remind these young people of their eyes and teeth drill. They are on their toes raring to go all the while and the result is a show that fairly bounces and sparkles.
It’s such a team effort that one almost hesitates to pick out individual performances but I thought Valerie Walmsley made a splendid Eliza. Alec Greaves gave us a rather benevolent Higgins, Ernest Pollitt had some excellent acting moments as Pickering. Alan Lee was a jovial mountain of a man as Doolittle and I liked Audrey Raistrick’s study of Mrs Pearce.
Derek Taylor produced. Arnold Thornton was musical director and Lois Booth choreographer.
