The Wealthy Widows

‘The Wealthy Widows’, written and directed by Sue Andrews, a different offering from the usual pantomime for Christmas. Programme quote: ‘Deep in a forgotten corner of the Foreign Office, we find Sir Humphrey Fielding writing busily, apparently hard at work’.

The outing to Blakeney is always eagerly anticipated for the individual styling of a production written especially for the cast and bringing out all the talents and for the quirky story-line, and for the fun engendered both on stage and over the footlights, and we are never disappointed by the production, and once again it was different. So was it a play, a musical (great singing moments), a story, a thriller and whodunit, several undercover persons, and with dance (tap) and movement, the technical always to a very high standard (you won the technical award last year), a huge costume plot put together in this particular production, where to place it in the established categories? It was just such a good evening’s entertainment and so well supported again with a packed hall.

The cast list in the programme was amazing with 35 characters on this small stage, all singing and dancing to best endeavours with pace and keeping this unlikely story of a secret memo lost and then found at a fashion show. We went from the Foreign Office (Hush,hush from this team) via the Investigative Agents in UK (Lola and her team) and the Kremlin (Olga, Nikolai and team) to the Negresco Hotel (Owner Jeanne Augier and team) in Nice using that clever technical effect of the super continental train journey. We met the group of seven Wealthy Widows for their AGM and then on their way to the Christian Bior Fashion Show carrying, unknown to themselves, this secret document. The story ranged over 13 scenes and also included Hotel staff, the fashion designer and team and the catwalk models in their many costumes and dance, so many talented performances undertaken that impossible to name all. Perhaps a mention for the non-dame, non OTT Edna Everage, straight and well underplayed but so well observed and in control, Lola.

Some really good numbers from the many stars of Blakeney, repertoire not always necessarily expected, ranging from Salad Days to jazz, (Gill Mellor and her team musicians on cue), how we enjoyed them all and the tap routine which is obligatory on this stage, and the finale ‘Champagne’ said it all with vivacity in this very happy and enthusiastic fun performance.  No wonder we love you.

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