Here's What They Said About......

Manchester Music Award Nominations and NODA North West Nomination:

Jill Ratcliffe for Best Actress in her role as Carrie

Reproduced from The Noda Magazine

This was Rodgers & Hammerstein's second collaboration based on the play Liliom by Hungarian dramatist Ferenc Molnàr (The play's first Broadway appearance was in 1921). Carousel is now 53 years old and not showing any sings of age. It keeps being revived as in the 1992 acclaimed production mounted at the Royal National Theatre later transferring o the Shaftesbury Theatre.

In this production the director kept to a traditional staging making use of the venue's limited facilities.

The two leads, Julie (Vickie Hawkins) and Bill Bigelow (Stuart Hall), gave the necessary contrasts of their difficult relationship. Stuart sang with depth of feeling while Jill Ratcliffe as the trusting Carrie, with Robert Burke, the ever faithful Mr. Snow, gave a gentle, humorous, but stylish, performance.

There was good work from Catherine Kinsella as Louise and Starkeeper, Gordon Harrison. The children were well received by the audience. All credit must go to a hard-working cast. The music was atmospheric without being intrusive and there was valuable contribution from the choreographer.

I was pleased to assist Chairman, Mel Gibbs, in the presentation of long service awards - congratulations!

John Flay

Reproduced from the Stretford and Urmston Messenger

Contrary to popular belief, You'll Never Walk Alone is not a football anthem - it is one of a host of popular songs from Carousel, Urmston Musical Theatre's forthcoming production. Peter Pennington thinks it will prove popular because "the music will appeal to people and it's a story that everyone can follow"

The show tells how the naive Julie falls in love with Billy Bigelow. He is led astray and attempts a robbery in the process of which he gets killed leaving her pregnant. From heaven he witnesses his daughter's graduation.

This scene features a ballet which lasts 14 minutes. Peter says: "It will test the skills of the dancers but our choreographer,Wendy Robinson, is very good"

The dancers will be backed by a 12 piece orchestra under the direction of Trevor Brooks.

Stuart Hall as Billy,Vicky Hawk as Julie and Jill Radcliffe as Carrie, Julie's friend are all doing well.

"I like Carousel. It is one of the better musicals from Rodgers and Hammestein and I think the public will like it too", adds Peter

Julia Taylor