Your Midland and Shropshire am dram round-up
We welcome Walsall Operatic Society to the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre next week with their latest production, Sweeney Todd, the infamous, gruesome tale of the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, who murders his clients, while his business associate Mrs Lovett bakes the bodies into meat pies and sells them to the unsuspecting public.
Described as composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim’s most perfect score, Sweeney Todd is horrifying and yet still offers an element of black comedy. The characters are all larger than life and demanding in terms of vocal ranges and dramatic ability.
Director Tim Jones says: “Everyone is excited and thrilled to have the opportunity to perform at such a prestigious venue as the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre. They are a multi-talented group who have worked hard to bring the show to the stage.”
“Sweeney Todd is thrilling, exciting and intricate and takes the audience on a rollercoaster ride of emotions with evocative music. From the first chilling scene to the terrifying conclusion, it’s horrific one minute and charming the next. It has been a pleasure to work with this company on such a complex show,” says Tim.
The score of the show can only be described as epic and includes the rousing ensemble number The Ballard of Sweeney Todd and A Little Priest, in which Sweeney and his accomplice regale the joys of baking various people of particular occupations into their pies.
It’s not the faint-hearted, but the show also includes some wonderful ballads including Not While I’m Around. This song produced an unforgettable moment for mothers the world over when Barbara Streisand sang it to her son, Jason Gould, at one of her internationally televised concerts. There was not a dry eye in the house.
In this production. Richard Poyton takes his dream role as Sweeney, while Steph Coleman is Mrs Lovett.
l For lovers of block-buster musicals who are not afraid of a little blood and gore, visit www.grandtheatre.co.uk or call 01902 429212 for tickets.
Opera Worcester is presenting Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro from March 15-17 at the Swan Theatre.
This much-loved comic masterpiece is the composer at his best, with an energetic score and witty script.
Figaro and Susanna, servants at the palace of County Alamviva, are looking forward to their wedding, but the Count has his eye on the bride! With the help of the Countess and her Page, Cherubino, the couple plan to outwit the Count and live happily ever after.
On a more serious note, from March 8-17, there is a performance of Birdsong at the Sutton Arts Theatre.
As a young man, Stephen Wraysford was caught up in an all-consuming love affair in Amiens, France. When he is sent to war, he finds himself drawn closer and closer to Amiens and back to the Valley of the Somme.
A tale of one man’s quest to understand how far mankind can go and still call itself human, Birdsong is heart-breaking, powerful and thought-provoking.
l For tickets, visit www.suttonartstheatre.co.uk or call 0121 355 5355.
The Mint Theatre Company based at Aldridge Social Club is presenting Ronald Harwood’s drama The Dresser from March 16-24.
Reliving his own experiences as a dresser to the Shakespearean actor, Sir Donald Wolfit, on whom the character Sir in the play is based, Ronald tells the story of an aging actor’s back stage assistant who struggles to keep his boss’s life on the straight and narrow.
Written in 1980, The Dresser enjoyed exceptional success both in the West End and on Broadway and the role of Norman is one which has been portrayed over the years by some superb dramatic actors, including Tom Courtenay and Nicholas Lyndhurst.
l There are performances at 7.30pm nightly and for tickets priced at just £7 each, call 07715 578923, or email ticketsthemint@hotmail.com
The Whittington Players, who perform at Whittington Village Hall, always present a good comedy and their latest play is no exception.
Entitled rather aptly, An Evening of Comedy and playing from March 16-17, the group will start the evening off with an array of sketches presented by everyone, before breaking for a fish and chip supper. Then in act two, there will be a one act comedy called Last Tango in Little Whittington, by David Tristram.
A failing group of am dram thespians have dwindled to just four members and the future looks bleak, but they are determined to go out with a bang! They decide therefore to perform a very daring little show under the premise that the only thing that sells tickets these days is sex. Apparently, this successful short comedy has clocked up just more than 1,000 performances by am dram groups in just three years. It must be popular!
l For tickets priced at £10 which includes the supper, call Kay on 01543 490355.
West Bromwich Operatic Society Youth Theatre will be performing their concert, It’s Time to Shine, at the Dormston Mill Theatre in May and the hit musical Hairspray in November, but are currently looking for new members to join them.
l More information of these two shows nearer the time, but for now, if you are aged nine-19 years old contact emma@wbos.co.uk by the end of April.
And finally this week, South Staffs Musical Theatre Company is holding open auditions on March 12, for new members to join them for their production of Top Hat, which the group will perform at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre in October.
l Interested? You need to prepare a song and come in comfortable clothes and footwear. Call 07886194144 or email nortonaj@hotmail.co.uk for more information, or simply pop along to Newhampton Arts Centre from 7pm.
