Free & Easy

This light-hearted "juke-box musical" comedy play by Bill Cronshaw, with a great selection of well-known pop songs from the 60s, was the perfect vehicle for this very talented group of enthusiastic and experienced performers.

The stage, and floor area in front of the apron, had been transformed into the 1960's bar and snug of a typical neighbourhood pub in Manchester "The Last Drop" by the very creative in-house set team, with great attention to detail with that era's decor props - including the three porcelain flying ducks on the wall of the inset sitting room!  The set provided a very authentic backdrop to the action, which centres round the regular Friday "Free & Easy" nights (now better known as Karaoke), hosted by Eric and Iris Dobbins, the pub's friendly and caring landlords. Eric and Iris treat their staff and regulars as "family", which has helped them win the coveted "Pub Of The North" Award on two occasions and they're looking to claim the Award for a third time.

However, the brewery's new and unscrupulous external premises consultant, Ron Stone, has other plans.  His visit causes great upset to the Dobbins family who, together with their loyal staff and customers, resolve to thwart his threat to fraudulently deprive them of their tenancy and turn their much-loved "home from home" into a more "salacious" entertainment centre.

This musical comedy calls for a strong cast of actors/singers and on-stage band of guitarists and drummer as the backing group.  There were certainly no such concerns with this production, as Producer/MD Philip Newlyn and Director Mair Godley had so much talent at their disposal, and, indeed, they also doubled up as two of the cast members.  Without exception, the cast, chorus and band gave their all in providing their audience with a musically sound and very accomplished performance, with authentic-sounding Mancurian accents to boot.  The costume plot, too, delightfully echoed some of those 60's iconic outfits - well done to Heather Bartels for sourcing these.

Keith Shilling and Margaret McCloud both gave very believable and warm performances as Eric and Iris Dobbins, the landlords.  They were well supported by Molly Stevenson, as their outgoing and trendy daughter, who also showed real talent as a "karaoke" singer.  Marion Wells was perfect as the pub's friendly barmaid Sharon.  Mair Godley, as Director, also put in a confident performance as the pub's other barmaid, Vanessa, who in a former life worked as a "club" dancer in one of Ron Stone's establishments and masterminds the plan to stop him evicting her caring employers and friends.  Amongst the pub's regulars, Lonnie Lennox, a shy and educationally challenged local lad, was well-portrayed by John Pearce.  As Kev Sutcliffe, the local scout leader, David Holliday brought out the character of the caring but romantically shy long-standing boyfriend of Sharon, who's finally persuaded by his more extrovert "spivvy" friend Steve 'Switch' Mullen, well-played here by Jack Wells, to declare his true feelings.  'Dodgy' Ron Stone, the brewery's consultant, was threateningly portrayed by Philip Newlyn, who, in addition to his role as Producer/MD, was also a guitarist and vocalist in the band - what talent indeed!

The lives and loves of this delightful group of characters were interpreted in the very cleverly chosen selection of pop songs which interspersed the action and the principals were well supported by the small chorus of "customers".  Even the audience were encouraged to join in the sing-along at the end!  Well-balanced and controlled support from Nick Godley and Hamish Everitt, the lighting and sound technicians, helped to enhance the whole performance.  This was a refreshingly different style of musical and the Wethersfield Amateur Performers had got it just right.

Well done and thank you for a most enjoyable evening's entertainment.

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