The Good Old Days, an Authentic Victorian Music Hall

The Good Old Days, an Authentic Victorian Music Hall presented by Wigan Musical Theatre Group at St Michael’s Parish Hall, Shaw Street, Wigan on Thursday, 12th October, 2023.  

Wow… I honestly can’t remember the last Old Tyme Musical Hall I saw or was involved in… so this production, which was really well received by a large audience present, took me back many, many years… was the wait worthwhile…. WITHOUT DOUBT!   We had the usual plethora of rousing songs from the era, ‘risqué jokes and sketches’, always popular and well received!  The evening was led superbly by our ‘Chairman’ Kim Begley who was perched on stage throughout with table and flickering candle … delivering those long unpronounceable words and phrases describing the acts. I asked about Kim during the interval and was told to look him up on the internet… OMG we were in the presence of a superstar!  Kim’s career as an actor and opera singer was a lengthy one, he was a principal tenor with the English National Opera, travelling extensively across Europe and North America…. honestly you just never know who you’re going to bump into on a damp and dreary Autumnal evening in Wigan! 

Production Team… putting any production on stage needs experienced and dedicated folk at the helm!  Many have this pre-conceived idea that a concert, revue or Music Hall is an easy option to stage … WRONG! I’d suggest that they’re as difficult, if not more difficult, than a scripted piece!  Wigan Musical Theatre are blessed with many such people, this production being in the safe and capable hands of Clive Green (Director - who also compiled the programme), Christine Armstrong (Assistant Director) and the ever so experienced Joan Bond (Musical Director).  Not only did Clive and Christine take on the directing mantle, they also performed on-stage!  It was obvious as soon as those curtains parted that everyone on stage was well rehearsed and ready to give their all!  Congrats Clive, Christine, Joan, be ever so proud… job well done!

The evening was performed in two acts… below are the titles of various sections from both acts, within those sections were a variety of songs, too many to mention individually…. 
Act 1 … opened by Kim Begley (Chairman)… the programme then included…
“London Medley”
“She told Me to Meet her at the Gate
“The Honeysuckle and the Bee”
“Ain’t it Nice”
“We Live in Trafalgar Square”
“Love and Marriage Medley”
“Oh Sarah, Oh Enery”
“Let the Rest of the World Go By”
“Every Little While”
“Let the Great Big World Keep Turning”
“Why am I Always the Bridesmaid”
“Vesta Victoria Medley”

Act 2 … opened with the Chairman’s rendition of “The Night I Appeared as Macbeth” followed by his welcome!
“Seaside Medley”
“Heaven Will Protect and Honest Girl”
“She Knows you Know” (Hylda Baker Sketch)
“Marie Lloyd Medley”
“I’m Shy Mary Ellen I’m Shy”
“He’s Going There Every Night”
“Almost a Legionnaire”
“Florrie Forde Medley”
“Down at the Old Bull and Bush”
“Dear Old Pals”

All the songs and sketches were sung and acted out by an ensemble that included… Christine Armstrong, Cara Bullock, Gwen Charnock, Rosella Cropper, Hazel Dobson, Clare Hodkinson, Sandy Kershaw, Emma Morris, Georgina Morris, Bernie Murphy, Joyce Ratcliffe, Patricia Reid,  Lisa Rignall, Maria Rignall, Carol Smith, Elizabeth Wallwork… Paul Balfour, John Clinton, Clive Green, Brian Heap, Ian Hollis, Robert Kenyon, Brian Middlehurst, Dominic Sharpe and Guest Appearance by Kim Begley!

There was very little doubt from the smiles, energy and enthusiasm shown by all those on stage, that everyone was having the time of their life and if the cast are enjoying themselves… then there’s little or no doubt that the audience will enjoy themselves also… that being borne out by the applause and laughter throughout and the applause as those curtains closed for the final time… be ever so proud… truly enjoyable night for all present!

Never one to sit on the fence… these were my three favourite pieces from the evening…(Really could have chosen many others… an evening littered with quality songs and performances) …

a… FAVOURITE… JUST LOVED ... Clive Green’s rendition/sketch of “Why am I always the Bridesmaid’
Honestly, I didn’t even recognise Clive under the wig and dress… but laugh, my sides were aching!  The performance was full of fun, visually perfect and superbly performed… brought the house down!

b… Not far behind was the ‘Hylda Baker’ sketch ‘She Knows You Know’ portrayed by Christine Armstrong assisted by the ‘poker faced’ Aiden Miners.  Christine, took this to another level, mannerisms, facial expressions, demeanour was perfect and Aiden was the perfect foil for this to work really well!

c… Loved Georgina Morris’s rendition of ‘The Honeysuckle and the Bee’ sung to perfection… followed by her duet with Sandy Kershaw … ‘Ain’t it Nice’… two lovely voices, two great songs…well done ladies! 

Set/Tech/Staging… as always, the ever-present Shelia Cleary (Stage Manager) led the backstage activities… ‘Staging Team’ of Christine Armstrong, Kim Begley, Louise Butterfield, Cath Stockley, Brian Heap, Robert Kenyon, Brian Middlehurst and members of the cast did a great job with a simple set which was effective, offering the cast the backdrop and the space they needed to do their thing!  Lighting… under the watchful eye of Peter Wallwork, Matt Hollis and Cath Stockley. Sound looked after by Clive Green, Mel Meadows, Andrea Connell and Rick Kershaw.

The Orchestra… led, as always by Joan Bond (MD/Keyboards), included Nick Woods (Percussion) and
Kevin Bates (Bass Guitar).  Stalwarts of the society… they never fail to support perfectly and sensitively all
the singers… well done, busy night for you guys, be ever so proud!

Costumes/Props…  the costumes/props were fabulous, provided by Charades Theatrical, Clare Hodkinson, Kim Begley and Wigan Little Theatre.

As always… on behalf of my wife and I can I take this opportunity to thank you all, for your warm and homely welcome on arrival and during the interval… and for once again providing us with another slice of incredible cake provided by Frances Cheetham (sorry John!) … it really is always a privilege and a pleasure to visit you guys and to see you perform on stage.

 Stay safe and keep well….
“Stronger Together”

Jim Briscoe
NODA North West
District 6 Rep
 

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