Summer Holiday

Considering the restrictions of the stage, must congratulate the design, construction, and crew for the technical with their representations of the many venues and the bus on set, worked very well and set off the numbers from the cast; costumes good and period.

The production team of Julia Rymer, Tom Horton and Natasha Bird really brought out the best in the company for this show especially as some were newcomers with the group. The direction was interesting and imaginative to cover the different characters and venues: I have not seen the show since the film and, as Julia says in programme, amazing that the 60s music and all those Cliff Richard songs have survived so well and still so remembered, casting was good which helps to bring the show to life.  The MD Tom Horton from Southwold was an inspired find with his prowess on keyboards (and experience in professional world), certainly this show needed him as accompanist rather than an orchestral mix with difficulty to re-create sound from the 60s, and great pace and mood giving atmosphere. And all that lively movement and hand jiving perfect for period really helped keep the toes tapping and eyes in mood, Natasha had it all in hand.

The four young men from London Transport really were an excellent team working so well together for the story, all strong on the vocals and moving well, each developing their particular character and able to star in their own lead numbers, Daniel Hughes, Joe Learner, Graham Tomes, and Matt Bruty certainly complimented each other to bring out their own special traits with the extras of guitar playing from Matt, movement from Joe, that very period hair combing from Graham, and of course that extra smooth singing from Daniel in a very polished performance in Cliff role of Don

 And this experience and polish from Daniel ideal to play opposite a newcomer to the group in Laura Frosdick as Barbara, very good vocals, looks and style, convincing acting personality for the role of the bullied up and coming star, this duo worked.

 The trio from the car to the bus, Angie, Alma and Mimsie, (Clare Jameson, Nichola Mills, India Bell) had enormous energy throughout, great with their vocals and all the dancing, what fun they had working with those transport boys, certainly this gave good atmosphere to the piece, a lively trio.

 And to the ‘adults’ in the story: Dawn-Wenda Harvey had the dominating spirit and bullying mother-feel and frustration of Stella, a change from her Dames-roles at pantomime in Southwold, definitely not someone to get on the wrong side, very convincing throughout.  And trailing behind and trying hard to smooth the situation and yet maintain the publicity factor, losing in most sequences, Terry Rymer as Jerry was ideally cast and had to accept what was happening in a good portrayal.

 But one should not forget or ignore the enormous input from that hard-worked ensemble who appeared in so many mini-character roles throughout the show and kept the story going. Their energy was amazing as they kept changing costumes with the venues, their vocal input added to all the numbers and their movement and dance increased the whole feeling of period for the 60s, they must have been exhausted by the end of the show.

  A very lively and happy show totally suited to a hot summer evening, bringing nostalgia with the music (still singing in the car) and reminding me of a forgotten, happy, and misspent youth, thank you.

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