Tell me on a Sunday

It was a very wet cold evening when I joined a very expectant audience at the Phoenix Theatre Ton Pentre, for Theatre Mask Production of “Tell me On a Sunday”.

This being a one woman show, it was very new to me and although the show contained some exceptional songs from the pen of Andrew Lloyd Webber, I really did not know what my reaction would be to this marathon solo performance.

I can only say that the whole performance had me transfixed; I could not believe what I was seeing or hearing.

“The Girl” was played by Ffion England and I cannot emphasise enough, the pleasure that she gave her audience. Her acting and vocal skills shone throughout the performance. Ffion took us all through the joys and turmoil of a girl alone and looking for love and security in a foreign world. In the beautiful execution of over 20 songs, she created an atmosphere that gave her audience the most intimate view of her life in a style that would grace any West End stage.

The minimalist staging did not detract from the telling of the tale but enhanced the performance with everything it required. My congratulations to Director Alan Mears on a production that clearly had quality as the headline. A show to be proud of.

Although this was a solo performance, I must commend the beautiful and subtle addition of the Background Singers vocals, by Lynfa Ackerman and Sian Elson. It gave depth to the vocals and a very haunting effect.

The music is the centre and soul of this production and I congratulate Musical Director Diane Wright on the single-handed accompaniment of the whole performance. It was flawless and very much enhanced the delivery of the of the story and the success of the production.

My first experience of “Tell Me on a Sunday” left me humming the songs all the way home. There is no greater accolade. My congratulations and respect to you all.

Dianne Hayes NODA Wales and Ireland Regional Representative District 7

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