Waiting at your tables Ginge Anderson Glenys Blake Angela Dunnett Les Elliott Peter Fidler Kath Gannon Celia Glanville Dennis Hopwood Jackie Lack Ray May Margaret Morrison Andrew Murray Julie Richardson Jill Schrodel Nigel Simpson Trisha Tebbatt Rex Whitehurst Ted Blake Alan Bunner Janette Edwards Valerie Faiman Ann Fittall Elaine Gee Jonathan Hassell Darren Jhuboo Sarah La-Plain Sue Mitchell Mary Moscrop Andy Nutkins Lana Sauer Dawn Sikora Stephen Smails Vera West Alan Whitworth Tonight's House Band Piano Bass Drums Reeds Trombone Carol King Rob Rogers Haydn Callow Gary Cooney Erik Hopkin Production Team Maitre'd Mr Rainbow's Assistant Mr Thomas Rainbow Trisha Tebbatt

NODA Review

SOCIETY; WEMBLEY OPERATIC SOCIETY
PRODUCTION; "THE ALL NIGHT STRUT!"
VENUE; WINSTON CHURCHILL HALL, RUISLIP
DATE; 26/5/00
REPORT BY; VIC GOLDING

Wembley Operatic Society's "All Night Strut!" provided a lovely nostalgic wallow for most of the older generation in the audience. We found that we remembered the tunes and words of those songs of the 30s and 40s very well. "Ah!", we said, "they don't write 'em like that any more!" What younger members of the audience thought was hard to gauge as the words were not always clear, but there was evident enjoyment in the top-tapping music.

This splendid revue proved a brilliant company show, giving opportunities to a lot of talented singers who don't normally get a chance to shine, and lack of a plot, dialogue, props and changing scenery meant that one could relax and just concentrate on the music and movement. The choreography, by Tom Rainbow assisted by Trisha Tebbatt, was very well organised, if a little repetitive, but then so many of the company numbers were similar in rhythm. It was danced energetically and enthusiastically by a lively cast, though precision in some of the earlier numbers was not noticeable!

The orchestra, conducted admirably by Tom, was absolutely first-rate, and, when they were in silhouette, without the cast, with changing coloured lighting behind them, the effect was quite stunning. The lighting department, under John Jetten, really made a spectacular contribution to the whole show. The period costumes (Vintage Years), wigs (Janet Jomaine), and make-up (Jean Lloyds and Gini Hardy), could not have been bettered, evoking memories of what our parents and grandparents wore in those far-off days. The ladies' day-wear was not always flattering to some figures, but the uniforms and evening dresses were excellent, and so 'right'.

I was most impressed with the solos, duets, and trios, requiring 'backing groups', not the easiest of music to keep in tune, with "A Nightingale Sang" and "White Cliffs of Dover" especially, being splendidly sung.

The programme, compiled by Andrew Murray, was excellent, but my usual carp, it is "The Yeomen of the Guard" not "Yeoman"! Nevertheless, I hope you will enter it for the NDOA Programme Awards.

Many thanks for inviting us to this invigorating show, and for the warm hospitality provided by your solicitous Front-of-House staff.