A Christmas Old Time Music Hall

For people of a certain age an Old Time Music Hall conjures up memories from the past which, coupled with a gentle Christmas theme, warm the hearts and send us home happy.  Such was the case at the Society’s cosy Spotlight Theatre which was nearly full on the night we went.

Included were a super range of perhaps forgotten old songs such as Nobody Loves a Fairy When She’s Forty, My Old Dutch, When I Leave the World Behind and When I Take My Morning Promenade which were delightfully performed by Pauline Pope, Bob Downing, Pat Hughes and Victoria Mitchell respectively.  Bob also gave us a super Ol’ Man River during a selection from Showboat which also included Life Upon the Wicked Stage and Make Believe.

I also very much enjoyed Kenneth Davison’s I’m Shy Mary Ellen and a monologue entitled Going Home which was presented by Sebastian Carvill-Belt.  Other highlights for me were A Little Bit of Heaven (Linda Coope), a couple of Irish numbers from Mike Sheldon and Sweet Little Jesus Boy (Pauline Woodcock).

Movement was kept simple but lively and the costumes were superb.

With keyboard accompaniment by MD Geoff Allanach, the whole thing was nicely held together and moved along by Mike Hammond as the Chairman and, with two segments devoted to Carol singing for audience participation and a very strong Christmas finale, no-one could say that they didn’t recognise at least something.

Very enjoyable!

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