Betty Blue Eyes

Austerity, I'll tell you about austerity...

Post war, flat broke Britain 1947, Clement Attlee's Government pledging fair shares for all, which as human nature dictates means a little more for some and a lot less for others.

We join the hopeful queue at the butcher's shop, ration books in hand, only to find nothing available except for their 'special' customers. This was a stark reality to most of the population, certainly for my parents as small children at the time.

What we need is a focus, take people's minds off the day to day difficulties, a royal wedding, our current Queen, Elizabeth II to be precise.

Throw in a corrupt town councillor or three, Messers Allardyce, Lockwood and Dr. Swarby, Frank McGregor, Rob Mincher and Adrian Yearsley, illicit unlicenced meat, a somewhat overzealous H.M. Meat Inspector Wormold, Tony O'Rourke, What could possibly go wrong?

To this fraught mix we add The Chilvers, Mother dear, the incomprable, incorrigible Ann McArdle; timid chiropodist, Gilbert, Paul Deakin; social climber par excellence Joyce, the wonderful Tracey Brough-Chesters. The song they performed together 'Pig No Pig' was a complete triumph, phrenetically paced superb comic timing, All played perfectly.

'Magic Fingers' featuring Gilbert tending to Mrs. Roach, Sue Hargreaves; Mrs Lester, Angela Flemming; Mrs Turnbull, Vanessa Davenport; reprising with Mrs Metcalf, Alison McNicol; was delecate, tender, beautifully sung and lit piece, very evocative.

A very British musical indeed, packed with dark humour, human behaviour at it's most basic level and incredibly poingnant to. Director Rachel Talbot-Millar certainly eeked out the most of her ratio book with her well observed production, terrific light and shade, high production values evident throughout the show, felicitations to the whole team bringing Betty Blues Eyes to the stage.

Wearing her customary many production hats as choreographer there seemed to be a mix of eras in the ballroom scene the inclusion of mainly dances from the twenties at odds with the era that gave us swing dancing, Jitterbug, jive and lindy hop.

The singing, and particularly the harmonies were fabulous, backed by superb musicianship. Musical Director Liz Talbot again on top of her game, bring a classy tone to proceedings.

Costumes were exceptional, great detail except for, and I am being picky, stripeless uniformed Sergeant Noble, and none of the ladies had seams or eye-pencilled seams for their gravy browning stockings, I did say I was being picky. Very clever scenery, very slickly changed scenes, equally so props, both were excellent. I'm not sure if Betty was a cast member or a prop – either way she certainly brought home the bacon.

And finally I cannot begin to say thank you enough and well done to The Rep for the amazing new speaker array – the sound was unbelievably immesurably better, complimenting and giving the audience full access to the range and dynamics of the very adept performers on stage. Thank you.

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