Salad Days

This sweet ‘Summer musical’ premiered at the Bristol Old Vic theatre in 1954. Its innocence and simplicity were very different from the slick and sumptuous American musicals that dominated the stage and screen. But it caught the public’s attention and affection; and it broke records with over 2000 performances in the West End

BODS’ revival was great fun, with an enthusiastic cast that worked hard and well, with many of them playing two or three distinctive roles.

They were helped by the excellent costumes that were varied & colourful and ideal for the post-war feel of this musical. Good wigs and facial hair were in abundance…Julie Bickerdike’s moustache was particularly impressive.

Lighting was efficient throughout. Projections were used as the  backdrops and these were very well chosen. Sound effects were clear & appropriate and always accurately timed.

Ian Stone did fine work as the Musical Director and as the pianist in the accompanying trio, with Helen Greaves and Tessa Lawn. The onstage pianists weren’t quite so disciplined; and sometimes wandered away from the piano whilst a piece was still playing.

Gail Lowe created dance numbers for the ensemble, that made good use of a small stage, such as Oh Look At Me; and lovely routines for Jane and Tim.

Really good props and furniture were used well and adroitly positioned in the many different scenes.

Two of the funniest scenes were The Foreign Office and The Inspector’s Office. The former had Peter Telford and Stephen Tickell as Westminster mandarins singing a comic song Hush Hush. David Longes was hilarious as the Inspector; and later as the Manager and Ambrose.

Jane Seymour gave a fun comic monologue as Lady Reaburn in The Beauty Parlour; and Emoke Soproni mimed well as Troppo and vamped deliciously as Asphynxia with Sand In My Eyes.

The lead characters, Jane and Timothy, were well matched and were played superbly with crystal clarity by Jane Khan and Dee Coutts. Jane sang and danced beautifully and Dee was all cheery gung-ho. Their duet We said We Wouldn’t Look Back was nicely done; and Jane sang a lovely solo I Sit In The Sun.

And everyone pulled so well together to give this classic, whimsical, bonkers show a frightfully amusing and enjoyable outing,

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