With tongue in cheek and rampant disregard for credibility or seriousness, Jacques Offenbach’s “Orpheus in the Underworld” is marvellous material for amateurs.
And the current production of the comic operetta by Walmsley Church AODS, Egerton, contains all the best aspects of the non-professional performance – fair levels of talent and bags of enthusiasm and commitment.
At the same time it manages to cover the cracks of the worst aspects…the occasional bum note, miscast part and less than ideal surroundings. Immediate plus points must go to those responsible for the scenery and lighting, which created a continuous and never flagging high standard backdrop for the manic action on stage.
The quality of the en masse singing in the first act made for an extremely successful show up to the interval. Lead roles were amply filled by Irene Bowers, as the wayward Eurydice; Bill Steel, a devilishly good Pluto and Alex Goodwin as the wronged husband Orpheus. The pace and momentum flagged afterwards, however.
