TOP HAT

Top Hat was a very enjoyable production from the Theatre Group. The songs and dance routines, of the famous Irving Berlin classic Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers film, were performed with great aplomb by the enthusiastic company.

All the major roles were performed well. Shaun Donald, playing American revue star Jerry Travers  was excellent, his singing and tap dancing were very good, I know from past experience how hard he must have worked. He was well supported by Aron Armstrong, who provided the comedy of the show, playing Horace Hardwick, Jerry’s theatrical backer. Horace’s valet Bates played by Maynall Weir, was like the ‘man of a thousand faces’, he turned up as a waiter and  gondolier, to name but two characters. The ladies characters were all well performed, socialite Dale Tremont was well played by Amy Morton, her singing and acting were very convincing, she was very closely followed by Vanessa Turpin, playing Horace’s controlling wife Madge, well played Vanessa. Special mention for me must go to James Ridehalgh, playing his first major role with the company, as Italian Stallion, Alberto Beddini, his accent and singing performance were terrific.All small parts were well performed, too many to mention sadly.

There were some very good dance routines, performed to the well known songs, and the full company numbers were very enjoyable, congratulations to Director Maria and Choreographer Judith. The orchestra was well led by Jennifer Daglish and the sound was generally good. Lighting was adequate for the particular situations and scenes.

I thought the set was very good. The main two level set worked very well, and the clothes were all very colourful and in keeping with the situations being played. Costumes were excellent, and really enhanced the whole performance. My one little niggle, I’m sorry to say was the constant use of the black front tabs. I felt that the props etc could have been moved without using the tabs, although I do realise that costume changes had to be made and perhaps the tabs covered that. I’m a great believer in cross fading lighting to different parts of the stage for scene changes, to me tabs are old fashioned.

After my customary little niggle, thank you Theatre Group for a lovely evenings entertainment, and best wishes for the rest of the run, and as always the groups hospitality was exemplary.

 

 

 

 

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