Don't call me Shirley

When we read the programme list of scenes, it is quite a feat to try to fathom the possible plot from an East End Pub, to the office of a businessman, via Baker Street and Sherlock Holmes, to the garden of Osborne House and Queen Victoria; and with music-hall songs coconuts, bubbles, vans, via Devon, to G&S, R&H, and others, even ‘Gendarme’, and finishing with line dancing!  Certainly Ralph Wiggins has a most fertile and diversely complex imagination to concoct such an entertainment.   And every single participant in a named role that exploits the talent and delights the local audiences; reading through the programme before the excellent group of musicians begin the music, the comment made is ‘all the usual suspects’ and they will all enjoy being a part of this show, and we in the audience could wish to be a part of the fun.   No wonder the waiting list for tickets extends each year over the run!

Once again the sets are to be applauded as most imaginative and built and painted with skill, setting off the many costumes required in this extravaganza.  Loved the flying of the clothes rail!

Good company numbers full of energy, singing and movement of the very high standard now expected from Blakeney, and obviously enjoyed by the participants.   Enjoyable ‘spots’ from the expected ‘friends’ of talent with Steve and Merle in ‘Glorious Devon’, and a great routine of ‘Gendarme’ from all led by Dave and Iain as Constables Runne and Emin.   Acting and comedy skills to the front with the Sherlock Holmes sequence, and a female Dr Watson, timing to the split second.   A nasty villain personified by Martyn and served once more by cameo from John Ratcliffe.  And throughout the action in all manners of song, dance, interplay, with style there is Peter Franklin as the mainstay of the story, and how well he acts as the link.

This is an evening of pure fun and enjoyment and waited for with great anticipation each summer, we know what a great evening the audiences will enjoy and what a good time the cast have had in rehearsal and performance, a group going from strength to strength.   And we finally realised when the curtain came down on the vigorous line dancing, that this is the first Blakeney show seen without their famous tap routine!

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