Old Tyme Music Hall

Is it really a year ago that LCBP presented an Olde Tyme Music Hall extravaganza?  This time I managed to encourage a few of my thespian friends to come along too and we had a large table again smack in the front of the hall – albeit four making a rather late entry!! We brought along our drinks and snacks, toasted the King, and once again enjoyed multi talented Chairman of the evening, drum roll …..Mr Dave Bourne, who never did quite finish Milton Hayes ‘The Green Eye of the Little Yellow God’,  but gave us a moving letter ‘from a true love’ based on the 12 Days of Christmas, introducing the many acts, sketches and chorus numbers, as well as delivering some real ‘cracker’ jokes.

The programme was in the form of an A4 sing-along sheet, and the audience, which was sizeable, joined in the proceedings most enthusiastically. Chairman Elisabeth performed a great sketch with her parrot – not real you understand, whilst Secretary Lyn Ford, who was indisposed due to the breakage of an ankle last year, was back in the fold  managing a couple of items without her walking stick, having had a very recent knee replacement! There were eighteen members of the cast - doubling up with stage duties too – a real team affair.

The stage was well dressed, and rotating three dimensional stands either side were used. Jac Young was responsible for the stylish sets of costumes, a good opening purple and the red and white dresses - ladies carrying white parasols, and striped blazers for the gentlemen, most effective, soldiers and nurses, as was the beautifully narrated tale of the maiden, her baby, impressive curly wigged Pirate King and mates. The Pearly King and Queen outfits worn by Graham and Maureen Payne were particularly eye-catching for the cockney finale, chorus ladies with bright boas.

Plenty of good props had been created by Malcolm Atfield and Ken Duce - a grandfather clock,  and all manner if items for the group number ‘If I were not upon the stage’ – which was really my favourite item - well rehearsed, timed and extremely funny. Good little tea table set for Malcolm’s speedy ’All I want is a proper cup of coffee in a proper copper coffee pot etc’, and you never know when those old gramophone records come in useful!   We all rather enjoyed  ‘You don’t know Nellie like I do’.

Musical Director Margaret played keyboard, virtually non-stop in her corner on stage throughout, coped with a couple of hiccups and also performed a couple of numbers as well, including the well known song, with two fairies reaching a certain age no longer being wanted!

Comedy sketches, monologues melodrama, solos, duets and ensemble work all provided an enjoyable evening’s entertainment.

We had a pleasant coffee with biscuits interval, with Elisabeth waiting at table, and the raffle was drawn   A most enjoyable evening was had by all, showing the diversity of the group, and I’m sure the following performances were successful too.

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