Blitz

Blitz opened in London in May 1962 at the Adelphi Theatre, while Lionel Bart’s huge West End success ‘Oliver’ was still running. Blitz ran for 568 performances and the song ‘The Day After Tomorrow’ was especially written by Bart for Vera Lynn.

This is a good company show, embracing performers from youngsters to mature adults. Audiences seem attracted to young people and particularly if the children are relatives. Jean Malkin is an experienced performer who worked hard to get inside the character of ‘Mrs Blitztein’, a typically Jewish East End matriarch of European extraction, this is a huge part, and I thought that she did very well, but I would say that the ‘fat suit’ worn looked too big and also during the first half she was at times completely drowned out by the orchestra which was too loud.

Mick Malkin as ‘Alfred Locke’ had many good moments ably assisted by Richard Tyler as ‘Ernie Nearmiss’. I very much enjoyed Olivia Muir, she was just right in the part of ‘Carol Blitztein’ who is blinded during a raid, she portrayed her part well, and worked well with Curtis Medley as boyfriend ‘Georgie Locke’. Tom Beck as ‘Harry Blitztein’ who deserts the army to become a spiv, was well cast, all the smaller parts were well done and I really got the feeling of being in London during the Blitz.

What can I say about the children, except well done, you all were brilliant, your singing of ‘We’re Going To the Country’ and ‘Mums and Dads’ was great. Blitz has some smashing songs, ‘Who’s This Geezer Hitler’ and ‘As Long As This Is England’ and many more.

Everyone on stage worked hard and sang well, the special effects worked well and the set looked good. Thank you Grange for a very entertaining evening and I was pleased to present 5 long service NODA awards to members. Thank you.

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