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Review
Author: Brian Sullivan
The Pajama Game
November 2nd 2013
Y.M.C.A. Theatre Cardiff
For this production the Society went to the delightful bijpu YMCA Theatre and , somehow, succeeded in making this normally “Big” show fit most comfortably into the confines of this small theatre.
The Company worked well and were obviously enjoying themselves. The sets for this production were simple but very successfully suggested the locale of the various scenes.
Andrea Howell gave a great performance as the feisty Babe Williams and was well partnered by Martin Sheehan as Sid Sorokin the new Superintendent.
The role of Hasler the boss was given the right degree of importance by Wayne Vincent.
Graham Wheaton made an impact on his every appearance as Hines, the Time Study man , and the business with the trousers was an absolute hoot!! In this funny scene he was supported by Joanne Yurs as Gladys, who gave a good performance thoughout.
Making a great impression as Prez was Chris Powell, who appeared very much at ease in the part and who led the factory workers in a rousing “Seven-and-a-half cents”.
The role of Mabel was given a neat performance by Gail Preece, who looked every inch the office worker, and Tom Seymour was a very persuasive salesman as Max and lit up the stage on his every appearance.
The small combo of musicians was just right for this production and venue and were well controlled by Val Pearse.
Long may this Society continue.
Curtains
1 November 2012
St Teilo’s Church in Wales School, Cardiff
Wayne Vincent
Musical Director
Liam Affley
Choreographer
Rebecca Bond, Ruth Bond, Lynda Davies, Wayne Vincent
Review
Author: Frank Wooles
Acquiring a reputation for finding and staging little known, or obscure, musicals the society presented the Welsh premier of Curtains, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb, the creators of Cabaret and Chicago. Billed as a musical comedy whodunit, set backstage in Boston, Massachusetts, at the Colonial Theatre, on the opening night of ‘Robbin Hood of the Old West’. The inept leading lady is murdered during the curtain call. The detective inspector assigned to the case, Lieutenant Frank Cioffi, turns out to be a theatre buff who will not only solve the murder but also the problems with the ailing show. In a very relaxed, laid-back manner, Phil Groves played Cioffi’s one-liner humour with good comic timing.
Direction by Wayne Vincent cleverly adapted and made good use of the limited facilities of the venue with a pacey, well-organised production played by good sounding enthusiastic cast and company. Under the baton of Liam Affley, a light and lively band backed the show and introduced the attractive, unfamiliar Kander score. The musical has many opportunities for character players and is well packed with good production numbers and attractive numbers for principals and support players.
Girlfriends
Reviewed by: Frank Wooles on Saturday 1 October 2011
Venue: St Teilo’s Church in Wales High School, Cardiff
Type of Production: Musical
Producer/Director: Wayne Vincent
Musical Director: Val Pearse
Show Report
The role of the WAAF (Women’s Auxiliary Air Force) during the war may seem an unlikely subject for a musical. Girlfriends, written by Howard Goodall in collaboration with Richard Curtis and John Retallack, tells of two recruits caught up in a love triangle with a philandering bomber pilot at a time when a flyer had an 80% chance of dying before completion of his tour of duty.
The two friends, Amy and Lou, convincingly and attractively played by Hannah Dacey and Carly Griffin, sang well and found good moments of drama and pathos in their ill-fated liaison with Guy, well played by Chris Powell in good voice, and strong support by Kieron Rees, as navigator Gareth.
Cameo roles were well covered with the company sounding good in demanding ensemble work and well backed by a small band with a big sound, which expertly handled the complex score under the baton of musical director, Val Pearse.
The sound and well devised production, by Wayne Vincent, made good use of back projections and effects to heighten the time and drama of the piece.
With a shortage of available men, Girlfriends – a little known show – was a bold but ideal choice with its mainly female cast and company and will, I am sure, be taken up by similarly placed societies.
Splott Amateur Operatic Society
Babes in the Wood
Reviewed by:Frank Wooles on Thursday 24 February 2011
Venue:St Teilo’s Church in Wales High School, Cardiff
Type of Production:Pantomime
Producer/Director:Wayne Vincent
Musical Director:Val Pearse
Choreographer:Wayne Vincent
Show Report
As a half-term treat for all the family what better than a good old-fashioned homespun pantomime with lots of nonsense, funny characters and corny gags. Wayne Vincent got it just right in his adaptation of Babes in the Wood, which was colourful, pacey and well drilled and full of fun and laughter from the start.
Serene Fairy Queen (Gail Preece) does verbal battle with the wicked Sheriff of Nottingham (Craig Preece), cheery, cuddly nurse Dame Martha (Phil Groves), does comic prattle with the gawpish henchmen Guff and Burp (Joanne Dacey, Cath Roberts), and mysterious Ali Bungle, adds to the giggle count. A toby-jug chubby Friar Tuck (Chris Powell), a dashing Robin Hood and a lovely Maid Marian (Hannah Dacey, Anna Richards) – all good colourful well-played characters - who, with others too numerous to mention, bowled the plot along and gave us a lot of fun along the way.
A smiling, hard-working company backed by a small but bright and breezy band under the baton of Val Pearse, created the magic of pantomime and had all of us doing our part with cheers and boos and silly catchphrases.
No big budget here but the show was attractively costumed (Just Fancy and the company) with good workable scenery custom built by members to suit the venue. And a good time was had by all.
Reviews Courtesy of NODA
http://www.noda.org.uk/
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