Dimensions Lost in the music of Stage and Screen

In a break from their ‘norm’ Longton Players ‘dipped their toes’ into Musical Theatre to present a musical! And what a musical it was!  Written ‘in house’ and directed by the Author, John Worrall-McBride, Dimensions – Lost in the Music of Stage and Screen brought together some VERY unlikely meetings of much-loved characters from stage, screen and television - to a  stage in Longton. Just as an example, where else could you possibly find Dr Who, Dr Emmett Brown (Back to the Future) and Annie dancing a can-can?! It was certainly a surreal moment to say the least!

The story in brief featured Dr. Who, complete with TARDIS, and played by Ben Percival and Dr. Emmett Brown, alas minus DeLorean and played by Mike Stockley both time travelling at the exact same time and somehow collided in the space time continuum, where they met Annie (played by Briony Rimmer) this trio formed our guide to the various travels and adventures they embarked upon an effort to each return to their own time and place.

The set was minimal, but, assisted by a video wall, most effective, (and it also meant we were able see the DeLorean) and worked really well.  The music was canned and the whole of the Lighting, Music and Sound was in the very capable hands of John Tipping, and was managed excellently, and at exactly the right volume.

Costumes throughout were highly appropriate and looked the part and so enabled the audience to easily identify ‘where we were’ and who we could expect to meet, at any given time! And as it really could have been anyone, at any time, it was very useful.

Lots of choreography, in the hands of Jenny Ashby and Christina Rose, by various groups of dancers playing Jazz Club ‘girls’, French Girls, Marionettes, Brightside dancers and even Zombies! All giving a well-drilled performance, with lots of happy smiling faces. 

There was some good singing, but even the most experience singers can experience some issues with canned music, and this was occasionally noticeable, BUT it in no way spoiled the evening.

Taken as a whole it was great fun from beginning to end, and, so importantly the cast appeared to be really enjoying the whole thing, the audience certainly did – even some good-natured heckling which only added to the overall enjoyment. 

I almost want to list all various characters we met during our whistle-stop tour of time and space mainly because the combination is just SO surreal, but I fear it would just become boring, so all I can really say is everyone -  cast, crew and audience appeared to have a great time,  and that is what it is all about, and two sell-out performances to boot! Many congratulations to all concerned in any way, and thank you for inviting me and making me so very welcome!

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