Mack & Mabel

With Jerry Herman’s magnificent  overture the show opened to a bare stage with the Directors Chair in full view, immediately letting us know we were in a film studio. From here we are led through some 20 years in the lives of silent movie actor and director ‘Mack Sennet’ and one of his stars ‘Mabel Normand’. Opening in 1929 at the end of the relationship when the “talkies” had superseded the silent era and ‘Sennet’ was virtually penniless.

We start  the show with  ‘Mack’ taking us back to 1911 from whence he proceeds to recount the next 20 years in words and music. The show relies on well timed interjections as ‘Sennet’ in the role   narrator   spoke to his audience and his story with ‘Mabel’ unfolded. This was followed by the first of many delightful vocal performances, particularly “Movies were Movies” and “I won’t send Roses”

A generation separated ‘Sennet’ and ‘Normand’ in age. He became her mentor  when as a young teenager in 1911 she burst into and joined the studios in Brooklyn New York.

The   chemistry between Adam Compton (Mack Sennett) and Liz Crompton (Mabel Normand)  was quickly established giving a  believability in the account  of silent-movie director Mack’s on-off relationship with his star, Mabel Normand.

Support with  good performances came from Emma Newton as ‘Lottie Ames’, and Christopher Smith as ‘Roscoe ‘Fatty’ Arbuckle’, with Michael Bradley ‘Adam Kessel’ and Grant Chapman ‘Charles O Baumann’ looking impressive financiers. Nice performances too by Kay Woodhouse (Ella) and J Paul Murdock (‘Frank Capra) .The full ensemble including “Big Time”, “Hundreds of Girls” and “Tap Your Troubles Away” helped give the show  pace and energy in the chorus scenes.

Sound direction supported by a   competent cast made this production work at each level, including the stage freezes.  Choreography worked well and could be seen to full extent in the Keystone Cops number.

As I left the Theatre I could not help but hear the warmth of appreciation being expressed by the audience and that is crucial to the continuing success of amateur theatre, that your audience enjoy the experience as  too do the company. .

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