Audience well and truly rocked in aisles
8:58am Wednesday 19th March 2008
MALVERN Light Opera Society had the audience well and truly rocking in the aisles with their excellent production of Summer Holiday.
Full of enthusiasm, Peter Davis' show was thoroughly enjoyable as the talented cast brought the stage adaptation of Cliff Richard's 1963 film to life with foot-tapping numbers from start to finish. Although Eric Price (Don) was not the strongest in the lead role, he was more than ably supported by Marcus Delorenzo (Cyril), James Stockall (Edwin) and, in particular, Jonathon D Stephens (Steve) as his fellow London bus mechanics.
The quartet take off on a trip around Europe where they meet stranded singers Becky Thomas (Alma), Sophie Mclellan (Mimsie) and the bubbly Aisha Cummings (Angie) and offer to take them to their next gig in Athens.
En route, they are joined by the vocally impressive Sara-Luisa Hicks as American singer Barbara who initially disguises herself as a boy to escape the clutches of her fame-driven mother Stella.
Stella (Liz Mclean) and comical agent Jerry, wonderfully played by Andrew Bartlett, follow the group across the continent, concocting various schemes to get her back, before Barbara and Don fall in love.
The high-energy complex dance routines, choreographed by Claire Kramer, were superb and Mat Jones' five-strong band was in fine form, providing the backing for more than 20 songs throughout at the Festival Theatre. A special mention must also go to the set designers for the delightful Postman Pat-esque cardboard bus and Bartlett's inspired maraca-shaking during the finale.
Steve Carley