Graham R. Edgington has succeeded admirably in his first foray into directing for Walmsley AODS. He also choreographed this ambitious production which is expertly staged with numerous scene changes and one particularly effective scene in which a huge TV screen monitors a dancing spectacular.

I have not seen a better leading man in amateur circles this season than Gary Williams who plays the ambitious Finch. His comedy timing is excellent and his phrasing during the intricate songs is impeccable. Vicki Smith - a Marilyn Monroe/Judy Holliday soundalike - effervesces with style and I'm sure the men in the audience appreciated the re-enactment of the famous Monroe "air vent" scene. Pamela Conlon as Smitty shows she can perform a song with the best of them and Adrienne Wormald makes a charming Rosemary. I enjoyed Mike Taylor's performance as J.B. Biggley and David Wilson makes an hilariously obnoxious Bud Frump. In the cameo role of Twimble, Harry Lee is superb.

This is the second exceptional show I have seen this season by Walmsley who are among the elite of our amateur societies.

Doreen Crowther

Directed and choreographed by Graham R. Edgington, this comic send-up of the American dream was approached with the usual professionalism of this society. The production was staged with numerous scene changes, which, whilst some of them were extremely effective, did tend to interrupt the pace and flow which is so essential for this type of show. Even the undoubted expertise of a talented backstage crew could not overcome all the problems and perhaps a little sacrificed in the scenery department would have helped the pace of the production.

There were strong principal performances from Gary Williams as the high-flying Finch, Mike Taylor as J.B. Biggley and David Wilson as the wonderfully odious Bud Frump. Of the ladies I particularly liked Vicki Smith as the “not so dumb” Hedy La Rue. Her Marilyn Munro soundalike, and particularly the famous “air-vent” scene, were much appreciated by the men in the audience. Adrienne Wormald was a charming Rosemary and Pamela Conlon delivered her songs effectively. Joyce Walters and Dorothy Yardley as the Scrub Woman played wonderful cameo parts adding greatly to the comedy element.

The overall production was well devised with nice touches and innovative ideas. Graham Edgington's choreography moulded the chorus into a slick moving unit which was, by far, the best produced by this society for some time.

Finally, I come to the musical department. Once again the society used a combo which I felt was not sufficient for this show. A well balanced orchestra with the right amount of brass to give the show the brashness it requires would have enhanced the production greatly.

Glyn Neary