A Centenary Celebration Concert

As part of their Centenary Celebrations, Beaconsfield Operatic Society hosted a concert in one of the town’s most popular Working Men’s Social Clubs – Newsham and New Delaval Social Club; more commonly called The Side Club. They performed to a packed concert hall of friends and supporters; some of whom have been instrumental in the Society’s development over the last one hundred years.

In order to enhance the enjoyment of the performance, each table in the hall was supplied with some nibbles and a pictorial list of productions over the centenary from ‘The Princess In Poppyland’ in 1924 to 2024 when, later this year from October 8th to 12th  they will perform Disney’s ‘Beauty And The Beast’.

The Society was originally called ‘The Beaconsfield Street Primitive Methodist Church Amateur Operatic Society’ (imagine trying to get that on a programme page!). They were later to simplify and change their name to Beaconsfield Operatic Society and their Centenary Celebrations continue in the very building they were named after, when they perform their Centenary Production in The Phoenix Theatre on Beaconsfield Street.

The Concert was introduced by our Master of Ceremonies – Michael Douglas, a lifelong principal performer and society officer. He is always an endearing and comical MC and tonight was no different. He talked at length about the history of the group and introduced and thanked some of the people in the room who had been vital to its longevity. We also remembered fondly those who were sadly no longer with us, but whom we all agreed would be smiling down upon us.

We were then treated to a superb selection of music, with excerpts from Gilbert and Sullivan to Kander and Ebb and Rodgers and Hammerstein to Lloyd-Webber and Rice, to name but a few. All put together and arranged by musical maestro Susan Sabourn; an M.D. BOS can be justly proud of. She not only conceived and arranged the whole of the musical content, but also performed in some of the pieces herself – including the wonderfully comical solo ‘I Hate Men’ from Kiss Me Kate. Many congratulations Susan!.

Peter Robertson was our accompanist for the evening – another stalwart member of many years and always pleasant to listen to. I remember playing opposite him in the Society’s productions of Oklahoma in 1980 and in The Student Prince in 1987 – he has a fine baritone voice. Well done Peter!.

A cast of just short of thirty choristers and soloists entertained us beautifully for just under two hours, with nicely balanced, fine lusty singing wherever necessary, combined with feeling and emotion in other places. It was obvious to the audience that great attention to detail during the rehearsal period had had a beneficial effect on the excellent delivery of the programme.

In part two of the performance, the music was interspersed with a showreel of pictures showing the principals, company and old programmes from the period. There were also scrap-books on show for those interested, which contained programmes and photos. All in all, the evening was a considered and considerable success, with all of the ‘stops’ well and truly ‘pulled out’. Congratulations to the whole team.

I have to admit that possibly my favourite and most emotive moment was at the end of the show, when the entire attendance sang Cwm Rhondda – ‘Guide Me Oh Thou Great Jehovah’ – the Anthem of the Society; learned by me and others over many years of shows, where we always ended with this beloved standard.

Finally, many thanks to Chairman Kathleen for the invitation and hospitality (including some superb centenary birthday cake). My companion Pauleen (also an ex principal, officer and MD of the Society) and I enjoyed a wonderfully nostalgic and thoroughly entertaining evening.

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