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Cast
(In order of appearance)
Larry Hart ....................................................................................... Les Hampson
Richard Rogers ................................................................................ Danny Watts
The Hostess .................................................................................... Irene Halliday
Oscar Hammerstein ..................................................................... Tony Adamson
Morty Rodgers .............................................................................. Graham Jones
Will Rogers ................................................................................... Charlie Formby
The Young Dick Rodgers ................................................................. Neil Culshaw
Mamie Rodgers ....................................................................... Christine McCabe
Freida Rodgers ...................................................................................... Marie Orr
Mary .................................................................................................. Pat Robinson
The Announcer ............................................................................... Tom Adamson
Lew Fields .............................................................................................. Dave Cox
Rita ..................................................................................................... Jo Horrocks
Ruth ................................................................................................. Nuala Duxbury


The Flower Girls
Elaine Alper, Gaynor Hale, Carol Kennedy, Sally Lane

Chorus
Thelma Adamson, Pam Ashcroft, Anita Davies, Heather Dickman, Ella Dring, Jackie Eaton, Betty Hall, Peggy Hulmem Melanie Lawson, Yvette Lewington, Jacquie Padden, Joyce Perrin, Ian Culshaw, Mark Duffy, Martin Parry

Specialist Dancers
Young Dancers
Natalie Croft, Sarah Culshaw, Laura Hughes, Jilly Huyton, Karen Huyton, Lyndsey Lang, Kayleigh Nickson, Shelly Sumner


For M.A.O.S.
Stage Manager .............................................................................. Neil Townsend
Costumes ........................................................................... Joyce Perrin & Sisters
Stage Crew ..................................................................................... The Company
Scenery Designed by ................................................................... Maureen Gulley
Scenery Painted by ........................................................................ Neil Townsend
Properties...................................................................... Southport Dramatic Club
Publicity ............................................................................................... Martin Parry
Front of House ........................................ Geoff Povlo and friends of the Society
Accompanist ................................................................................. Hilary Burgoyne
Continuity ........................................................................................ Jacquie Wade
Librarian ......................................................................................... Tom Adamson
Programme design and Compilation ........................................... Les Hampson
Photography ...................................................................................... Jim Duxbury


For Southport Little Theatre
Lighting ............................................. Syd Coley
Sound ............................................... Bill Davies

NODA Review

A show full of Rogers and Hart music should be good. plus a funny script -- a recipe for success you might think but no! Broadway Nights fails between two stools, its not a review and it is riot a musical comedy as we know it , It seems disjointed the link between the musical numbers and the life of Larry Hart being acted out does not seem to 'flow ' although the script is funny throughout.

Apart from all this its main fault is its length and I am sure it would be better if some of the musical numbers were left out. In this production the use of the 'tabs' did not help the continuity. Also using the auditorium to bring in members of the chorus took away the dramatic affect in the second half when Hart gate-crashes a performance of a show

The choreography was good and it was nice to see so many younger members on stage. I particularly liked the tap routine "Slaughter On Tenth Avenue" and "Blue Moon". "Ten-cents A Dance" was enjoyable and so was "Zip" (even if it did stick!) - they were all very well executed

All the dances were enhanced by splendid costumes; you have a great asset in Joyce Perrin and her team.

The set was well designed and was just right for this type of show but I felt more could have been done with the lighting to aid the continuity of the piece.

I would question one or two accents! If you have to use an accent you must be consistent with it and make sure your projection and diction do not suffer. Here Irene Halliday as the Hostess gave us clarity in all she said - an imposing performance. Unfortunately her partner in crime Tom Adamson did not and words were lost.

Les Hampson as Larry Hart gave us a sympathetic look inside this lonely genius - an interesting portrayal. Richard Rogers played by Danny Watts had a style of delivery which, because it was quick, unfortunately meant we lost some dialogue but his song, "I Could Write A Book" was excellent as were the dancers who shared the number with him. Other good characterisations were from Lew Fields played by David Cox and Oscar Hammerstein played by Tony Adamson.

Pat Robinson played Mary the house keeper for all it was worth and the audience warmed to her more as the show progressed. Her problem, at times, was the Irish accent which sometimes caused lines to be lost - but she showed that there was nothing wrong with her comedy timing

I particularly liked the flower girls, Elaine Alper, Gaynor Hale Carol Kennedy, and Sally Lane, Pam Ashcroft's "Falling In Love With Love" and Ella Dring's "To Keep My Love Alive". The final chorus number "With A Song In My Heart " showed what a good choral sound they could make . May I thank them for an entertaining evening and my thanks for their hospitality and warm welcome.

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Dave Cox & Maghull Musical Theatre Company © MMTC 2002/2005. All rights reserved. Last revised: 18/07/05.