On Air Again!

Ten years ago this Company had performed a Compilation Show ‘ON AIR’ which followed the development of Radio. This time with ‘ON AIR Again!’ they bring the sight and sound of Television to The Armstrong Hall. It followed the development of Television to present day supported with music of each era; it proved to be a most informative and entertaining evening.

It was presented on an open stage with a raised area towards the back and the Band on elevated rostra at the very back. The theatre had been dressed to represent a Television Studio with cameramen and monitors to the side. A link had been set up between cameras and monitors so that the cameramen were actually filming/broadcasting the action as it happened. This live coverage was interspersed with recorded coverage of events such as John Logie Baird’s first public demonstration of televised silhouette images in motion, with 'Stooky Bill' a ventriloquist's dummy talking and moving, as its painted face gave better contrast than a human one. Other events included were the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth, the first moon landings, early Commercial Breaks and excerpts from Monty Python. 

The evening started with Director David Wrench, complete with head set, welcoming everyone to the ‘recording studio’, giving an explanation of the ‘studio’, introducing the cameramen and sound crew and doing an audience ‘warm up’. We then had the check to see if everyone was ready and the show started with a lively rendition of ‘Yes Sir, That’s My Baby’ from The Flapper Dancers. Then Alison Hennessey, Peter Minshall and John Smith our presenters for the evening took us through the decades, starting with The Birth of Television.

There were a variety of well chosen News Reel clips, sketches, songs and era appropriate dance routines. There was ‘Children’s Ten Minutes’ with Andy Pandy as you have never seen him before, in an ‘adult’ version of ‘Andy Pandy and The Cart’, naturally accompanied by Looby Loo and Teddy. Finishing with ‘News and Weather’ If you Bring Me Sunshine, it will be a Perfect Day, and the presenters exiting the stage in true Morecombe and Wise fashion.

Choreographer Julia Edwards had devised interesting and lively routines, which everyone seemed to enjoy. The cameramen Tom Cornes and Daniel Green gave us out of the ordinary shots of the cast while they were performing, which gave another dimension to the production. Musical Roger Winter and his six-piece Band provided excellent accompaniment and being at with the cast and once again produced some lovely harmonies.

A Compilation Show is in many ways more demanding than a Musical, certainly the planning is more exacting, as you have to decide what to include and try to achieve a good balance of material. Director David Wrench had obviously put a great deal of thought into choosing the items to be included, with help I expect from Roger on the musical numbers. The cast, David and Roger had worked hard to put together a well constructed evening, with many in the audience revisiting times past. This was a very entertaining evening.

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