| Musical Director: Phil Redding |
| Winter Serenade November 2007 |
| The Company: |
| Simon Berger, Jenny Brown, Laura Cassells, Jenni Crook, Marion Ellerker, Tina Ellerker, Kristian Evans, John Gutherie, Jo Harrison, Terry Harrison, Samantha Hermes, Sylvia Horwell, Vanessa Horwell, Mandy Jelf, Sharon Johnson, Chris Kemp, Michelle Kemp, Kaye Killin, Christine Littlewood, Emma Littlewood, John Littlewood, Angela Mayes, Helen Mills, Nick Moulds, Natalie Page, Hilary Paxton, Samantha Pitblado, Clair Reevell, Deborah Richardson, Kathryn Richardson, Morna Rose, Samantha Sidwell, Adrian Smith, Christopher Stone, Jemma Thompson, Bill Waller & Robin Withey |
| Operatic Players shine in the Sun Pavilion SECURING tickets for this evening of music, sometimes ably mixed with mirth and a cavalcade of colour, is no easy task for a well received offering. Every inch of space is used for the action, be it steep stairway overlooking candle-lit tables or wings from the dressing rooms. The serenade is so popular some believe it could be transferred to a new and more spacious venue. This plea should be resisted. Doing so would surely run the risk of divorcing the audience from action, which plays such a key role. If the company wants to continue playing a winning hand the Sun Pavilion is its ideal venue. Director and choreographer Christine Littlewood, musical director Malcolm Hughes and chorus master Paul Dyson can all take a triple bow for the latest production which never lacked pace, moving along with its well-oiled wheels and not a rusty piece of track in sight. Never did the pace or punch slacken. In fact, it went into over-drive, going into the interval as the company excelled in their London Town offerings. Meanwhile, well into Act Two there emerged one Christopher Stone who beautifully captured the varying moods of Music of the Night from Phantom of the Opera. He was crystal clear in diction and had the confidence and polish of a true professional; the prolonged applause said it all. Amid the well-drilled foot-tapping numbers were some comical gems. Chris Kemp and an impish looking Simon Berger donned naval skirts and Union Jack undies in their hilarious Hello Sailor routine. The Gas Man Cometh, back-tracing from long before the dial and listen to the music era, was presented complete with rib-tickling lines by Terry Harrison whose extensive facial expressions ably fitted varying moods and frustrations. Fred Willis |
| 4th - 7th July 2007 Harrogate Theatre |
| Producer: Mike Kirkby |
| Musical Director: Phil Redding |
| 2007 Shows |