17th April 2025
Annie
Wymsical Theatre, The Norbury Theatre, Droitwich
The Sorcerer
Author: Paul Douglass for Brian Hirst
Information
- Date
- 28th February 2020
- Society
- Walsall G & S Society
- Venue
- Walsall Arena and Arts Centre
- Type of Production
- G&S
- Director
- Pamela Robinson and Ann Simpson
- Musical Director
- Liam Simkins
- Choreographer
- Pamela Robinson and Ann Simpson
Originally staged in 1877, this production was successfully revived in 1884 and it is this version which is used today.
In the village of Ploverleigh everyone is celebrating the betrothal of Alexis (Liam Simkins) and Aline (Ruth Shelley), and so the story begins. Liam and Ruth led the company well with their opening vocal exchange with their voices sitting well together. The two leads were well supported by Mark Branaghan as Doctor Daly and Ian Askew as Sir Marmaduke Pointdextre. Mac Hammond gave a magical performance as John Wellington Wells (The Sorcerer) casting his love spell over the whole village. As always with this society, the chorus work was outstanding, and it was good to hear some strong harmonies.
Costumes looked good and the set, though simple, was most effective. The orchestra, under the direction of Brian Hirst, supported the society well.
It was a delight to see one of Gilbert & Sullivan’s lesser-known shows especially presented by such a talented company.
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