42nd Street

Once again this great company put on a show-stopper of a production with all the right ingredients. It reminded me of The Ziegfeld Follies of the 1920s/30s, with the most fabulous costumes I have ever seen on an amateur show, with brilliant Tap-Dance routines choreographed to perfection and superb direction making full use of a wonderful set that lent itself to showing the performers off at their very best with slick efficient scene changes.

The curtain opened on Abi Farmery, as Peggy Sawyer, clutching her suitcase, her face full of expectation and excitement at being in the Big City of New York. From that very first moment she was every inch the part with superb singing, acting and dancing and wonderful facial expressions. My congratulations. Well Done.

Having opened the show with a quiet, thought provoking moment the inner curtain was raised on a full-on dance number, ‘Audition’ which was the start of innumerable brilliant tap routines set to entertain us for the next two and a half hours. Every member of the dance troupe smiled, looked the part in their varied costumes taking the show from one great number to the next, each one more spectacular than the last. Kate, Jodie and Kiarnie led this great team of dancers with style. Not to be forgotten, the boys all performed well led by Adam Knight as Billy and Richard Millen as Andy. Both portrayed very demanding characters and proved that they could hold their own in the acting department as well as some excellent tap dancing.

The role of Dorothy Brook, the Diva of the show, was expertly portrayed by Marie Ball who gave a performance of strength, power and finally compassion, which put a smile on our faces and a tear in our eye when she sang a beautiful duet with Billy; their voices were so well balanced in quality, depth and clarity.

Christopher Keen gave a really strong, confident and believable performance as Julian Marsh, who remained in charge throughout and Mark Caplan was hilarious as Sugar Daddy Abner. The other roles very well played by Andy Taylor, Denis Fullar, John Chambers and Sarah Papouis added greatly to the overall joy this show gave me. In fact Sarah astounded me with her great singing and dancing. All the other principals were well cast and remained within their roles. The orchestra who seemed to play forever were brilliant, the lighting excellent and the sound all worked together giving the packed theatre a real treat with this fabulous production.

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