Thoroughly Modern Millie

The title role of Millie Dillmount in Thoroughly Modern Mille is no mean task but Connie Grice in Chapeltown AOS production took it all in her stride and managed to create a character which was loved by the entire audience; her singing was excellent surpassed only by her ability to act and dance this role to the full.

As I mentioned above this part is massive but Connie tackled it like a real trouper, she was however supported by a great cast who all joined forces to make a superb show.

The love interest Mille has, at least for part of the time, is Jimmy Smith played with ease by Lee Hilton-Brammer who was able act, sing and dance his way through the show without putting a foot wrong, I particularly enjoyed his scene with Mille on the window ledge of the office where Mille works and they sing I Turned a Corner.

Millie also has another love interest in her boss Mr Trevor Graydon played by David Clayton and was he good, David managed to get every ounce of humour from this part especially when he sang Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life and I’m Falling in Love with Someone, this was extremely funny and resulted in plenty of laughs from the audience.

Mr Trevor however is also falling in love with one of Millie’s friends, Miss Dorothy Brown played by Amy Palmer whose beautiful voice gave expert justice to her songs again joining Millie and Trevor in the Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life and I’m falling in Love with Someone.

Where Mille lives in the Hotel Priscilla there is the manager who does not quite have the best interests of her clients at heart, Mrs Mears initially comes across as an unassuming sweet little Chinese lady but as we find out she is really the total opposite and kidnaps young girls who don’t have any family and sell them into the white slave trade. Julie Palmer was excellent in this role and although she was the villain of the piece I suspect she was loved by all.

Mrs Mears also has two unknowing accomplices in Ching Ho and Bun Foo played by Michael Parker and Phil Tuffin respectively and they were both superb and hilarious, I’m not sure if they were actually speaking Chinese or Mandarin but whatever it was it sounded good and it helped that their words were translated on screens at either side of the stage.

Millie also has a group of girl friends who also live at the hotel, known as the Priscilla Girls, Rita, Ethel, Lucille, Ruth and Gloria played by Laura Townsend, Kim Lord, Claire Clayton, Olivia Fisher and Jenni Newton-Smith all of whom only added to the enjoyment of this show.

There are many other characters in this show, far too many to mention by name but suffice to say all were able to give great performances to enrich the overall enjoyment of this production.

Massive congratulations to Jan Jackson, Director, Peter Piper, MD, Gail Renshaw, Choreographer and the entire company for a superb production. 

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