Thoroughly Modern Millie

The aim of this society is to provide young people (aged 16 – 30) with opportunities to explore and develop their theatrical interests and skills by being involved in fully staged productions and opting to perform this musical certainly did this. Based on the 1967 film of the same title, it covers the experiences of a young Millie Dillmount (brilliantly played by Kate Landy) who leaves her small home-town in Kansas for New York with the intentions of finding a new life for herself. She will get a job, have her own accommodation, listen to jazz, learn the latest dance crazes, adopt the latest hair styles and wear fashionable clothes and frequent speakeasies; however her ultimate ambition is to acquire wealth through marriage. Millie takes a room in the Hotel Priscilla where she meets and makes friends with the apparently naive Miss Dorothy (superbly characterised by Natalie Rowe) who is keen to find out how the other half lives.

This production was exceedingly well cast and James Clack’s detailed directing debut with GYTS gave all players ample opportunities to demonstrate their capabilities. Set furniture was kept to a minimum which facilitated Matilda Melinn’s choreography to be performed at a lively pace - the tap routines were excellent and much appreciated by the audience - well done the dancers! The fifteen piece orchestra, under the direction of Eloise Simpson, gave sterling renditions of the wonderful variety of tunes contained in this show - exemplified in the delivery of the “Speed Test” duet sung to a “familiar tune” splendidly performed by Jim Burrows and Kate Landy. This was an outstanding production having freshness of approach and an abundance of vitality. Congratulations to all involved!

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