Mack & Mabel
Information
- Date
- 24th October 2019
- Society
- Weston Super Mare Operatic Society
- Venue
- Playhouse Theatre WSM
- Type of Production
- Musical
- Director
- Ian Doswell
- Musical Director
- Peter Tyler
- Choreographer
- Carol Applegate -Day
What a delight to report for Noda on the seldom performed musical Mack & Mabel.
Weston-Super-Mare Operatic Society brought together an exemplary cast for this complex show which combines a strong dramatic story and a score with most of the songs ‘stand alone beauties’. With romance and rage, humour and tears, farce, slapstick, an exciting tap routine, dancing policemen and a manic cast of silent movie actors, it could be described as ‘the perfect musical’… so why isn’t it more popular with audiences. Perhaps because it’s a theatrical musical, almost a play with musical interludes, told in episodes, in flashback and it’s not straight forward …a thought provoking musical
WSM OS performed this show with style and ease. The music provided by a hidden 20 piece orchestra was excellent and provided a strong support for all the talented singers and dancers. A minimalist set which included necessary stage props was a simple background for this production, but made elegant and theatrical by the use of front and rear projection showing original silent movies and scene descriptions and at every critical moment. Very nostalgic and atmospheric. Watching Mack Sennett sing, behind gauze, on which were displayed high kicking dancing girls, was memorable.
The company worked as a talented team, obviously enjoying themselves and totally determined to impress their audience. The creative team of Ian, Carol and Peter are to be congratulated on achieving such a standard of direction with excellent production values including the lighting, sound and costumes.
The principals were all impressive in their own right….too many to mention, there was no weak link, all were perfectly cast and outstanding among this line up were Mack and Mabel - a brilliant pairing and also Lottie Ames… Mack’s actress.
Simon Duffill ‘was’ Mack Sennett and he lived his character, he ensured every word was heard and every move counted. He made us love, hate and pity him…. in sequence. A tour de force of a performance, many congratulations.
Felicity Berry as Mabel Normand looked divine ; a Mabel to envy and with her youth, style and undoubted talent, she moved flawlessly from a naive girl to a desperate and degraded woman… so once again we laughed, loved then pitied her. An excellent performance, congratulations.
Clare Hunter gave a tremendous performance as Lottie; her secondary role to the leading pair was so outstandingly good that I think many of us left the theatre just remembering her ‘Tap Your Troubles Away’. Congratulations Clare, a performance to remember.
The downbeat ending to the show, essential to ‘telling the tale’ left the audience rather emotional and overwhelmed and as a consequence the finale didn’t receive an ovation it deserved.
I thank the whole team for an emotional and most enjoyable evening.
© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.