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As Bobby, Paul Longhurst was the archetypal show man, dialogue and comedy delivered with timing and panache. Vocally, he mastered the known and not so well known numbers from a score which required him to sing more than half the numbers. This was no mean feat as most of those numbers also incorporated dance and tap routines, which whilst not being Paul’s strongest suit, he certainly did himself justice.
Cathy Longhurst, made a superb Polly, demonstrating her vocal talents from the enchanting ‘Someone to Watch Over Me’ to the all out ‘I Got Rhythm’. With six other song and dance routines this was a slick performance, made all the more remarkable considering she stepped in at only two days notice!
But the show really succeeded with the depth of ability and energy evident in the character roles, dancing line up and chorus singing. Anne Lovell, perfectly odious as Bobby’s rejected fiancée, Irene, and Chris Bassett, thick headed as the token bad guy Lank Hawkins were just two among a plethora of well executed characterisations. The dancing girls tapped their toes off to Fran Reynolds choreography, the excellences of which were slightly restricted by the size of the stage, and the whole company positively burst their lungs under the direction of Michael Burbidge’s baton.
Sympathetic lighting, beautiful costumes and well designed sets combined to give a stunning visual, and if the occasional upstage noise and offset mike can be forgiven, then, the delights of this show which had passed me by on previous occasions hit me smack between the eyes this time round. Well done OOS for a most entertaining performance.
Production: CRAZY FOR YOU
Company: Oxted Operatic
Director: Robert Stevens
MD: Michael Burbidge
Choreographer: Fran Reynolds
Venue: Barn Theatre, Oxted
Dates: 18-22 April 2006
Review by: Peter J Reed (Thursday 20 April)
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