This production introduced two new principals who acted and performed as if they were born to the stage. Louise Ellison’s Millie was played with verve and vivacity befitting her character. Although first night nerves left her slow into the action, her singing of the shows best known song was all glitz and drive and was maintained through the show.

Opposite her, James Quinn’s Jimmy was played as a New York “Jack the Lad” with a good throwaway style of dialogue and rock-solid accent. His singing was well up to standard and there is definitely more to come from this performer.

Maria Candy as “Miss Dorothy Brown” sang and acted with distinction and as did Chris Hill as Trevor Graydon. Along with Kathy Rawles as Mrs Meers, these were the performers that set the base of this production.

The other standout of the performance was Ann Sinclair as Muzzy. The theatre was set alight by her rendition of Only in New York. This is a voice that oozes quality. Mention must be made of the pairing of Sebastien Juliff and Jeremy Heelas and Ching Ho & Bun Foo. Their massacring of Mandarin Chinese throughout must have set back Anglo-Chinese relations decades but was well executed and very funny.

The Chorus danced very well and the accuracy of their tap routines was a testament to the hard work of Nikki Harsent-Noke.

There were a number of minor niggles with the timing and precision of the scene changes but these are also a problem with the venue. Similarly the absence of a pit meant that Neil Streeter’s well prepared cast on stage did not feel the full benefit of an orchestra to back them although the players laboured mightily for the cast.

The production had a rocky birth with changes of Director (through illness) mid-stream, Claire Nias can take pride from the show but must wonder what could be achieved if she had the tiller from the start. She is to be congratulated on presenting a warming, entertaining evening and getting the cast to work so hard for her.

Nick Williams
NODA Area 14 SE