The Drowsy Chaperone
Information
- Date
- 4th May 2013
- Society
- Battle Amateur Theatrical Society
- Venue
- Battle Memorial Hall
- Type of Production
- Musical
- Director
- Bob Murray
- Musical Director
- Richard Eldridge
- Choreographer
- Sheri-Ann Fido
Rob Dyer as Man in Chair epitomised the character and delivered his lines with just the right amount of dry humour. It was unfortunate the singing in the opening number was somewhat overpowered by the orchestra which may have been due to the sound system picking up the orchestra more than the company on stage, but this was soon rectified for the subsequent numbers with fine singing and diction from all. Paul Sysiak as Robert Martin the bridegroom and Henri Hayler as George, his best man, were an excellent duo executing the tap routine well with fine support from the dancers (Alison Campion, Sarah Hassell, Paula Najair and Natalie Stevens). Paul kept control of the roller skates well, especially when he was blindfolded and singing “Accident waiting to happen” which fortunately did not happen. Jessica Roberts (Janet van de Graaff) with her beautiful singing and dialogue evoked the character and period of being a Broadway starlet determined to get married. Sheila Crighton as Drowsy was brilliant, especially when being seduced by Aldolpho (Lee Lyons) the self-proclaimed “ladies man” with his excellent movement and rendition of “I am Aldolpho”. Richard Moore (Feldzieg) was very much the Follies producer, under pressure to stop Janet getting married. Kitty (Natalie Idon) gave a believable dim-witted show girl companion of Feldzieg. Charlotte Collins (Mrs Tottendale) as the scatterbrained dowager together with Adrian Collins (Underling) her exasperated butler, gave us great amusement and a lovely duet of “Love is Always Lovely in the End”. Peter Elliott and Don Young as the two Gangsters doubling as pastry chefs added to the amusement and executed their roles well. The pièce de résistance was in the final scene with a bi-plane descending to hover above the cast as Trix the Aviatrix (Keren Keeler-Moore) made her entrance with her great rendition of “I Do, I Do In the Sky” and subsequently agreed to marry the four couples. The principals were well supported throughout by the Company. With Bob Murray’s direction, Sheri-Ann Fido’s choreography and Richard Eldridge’s baton, this was a production which provided first class entertainment.
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