Just crazy about this musical
Congleton was last week treated to a superb all singing, all dancing version of the hit musical "Crazy for You", performed by the town's Amateur Youth Theatre at the Daneside Theatre.
The famous musical, written by George and Ira Gershwin, became one of the big hits of the 90s in London and New York, and the youth theatre delighted Congletonians with their own energetic and enjoyable production.
The scenes were well-choreographed and the timing, singing and acting showed considerable promise.
Credit is certainly due to director and assistant choreographer Rachel Adams, and musical director Simon Callaghan, but the undoubted star of the show was Steve Rawlinson who led the rest of the cast in his brilliant and hilariously funny adaptation of the lead role of Bobby Child.
The story is a little predictable: uptight, quick-talking New Yorker (Bobby Child) meets rough and ready country girl (Polly Baker) played by Linden Wint. Child brings a team of chorus girls to the sleepy town of Deadrock in Nevada in a bid to save a threatened theatre and to win the girl's heart.
With a backdrop of cowboys, young love and song and dance, the night was always destined to be a light-hearted affair, but this should not take anything away from the dedication which was so evident in the youngsters' performance, carried out with verve and aplomb.
The cast was as follows: Steve Rawlinson as Bobby Child; Linden Wint as Polly Barker; Philip Ball as Bela Zangler; Kirsty Morris as Irene Roth; Gareth Hopkins as Lank Hawkins; Chris Morris as Everett Baker; Emma Atherton as Mother; Tim/Laurie Innes as Eugene Fodor; Becky Heys as Patricia Fodor; Sam Morrison as Perkins/Harry; Rachel Wood as Tess; Stephanie Hardern as Patsy; Tim Innes as the Chauffeur.
The Folly Dancers included: Rebecca Hackney; Jane Harvey; Lisa Smith; Rachel Lovatt; Emma Carroll; Laura Foster; Amanda Thurley.
The cowboy trio were played by: Becky Adams; Sarah Woodward; Clare Beresford. The Deadrock Cowboys and card players were played by: Simon Austin; Luke Gray; Philip Crossley; Tim Innes; Laurie Innes.
The cowboys and cowgirls were: Sarah Thompson; Lucia Pinto; Katie Roberts; Rebecca Gray; Richard Banks; Suzanne Bedford; Rebecca Needham; Clare de Coninck; Jack Carroll; Alex Bond; Adrienne Cook; Anthony Crossley; Hester Bond; Samantha Cook; Hollian Wint; Sarah Heys; Kate Banks.
The impressive orchestra was conducted by Simon Callaghan and featured: Liz Reeves; William Carey; Joanna Preihs; Simon Souter; Chris Dawson; Melanie Haslem; David Windsor; Simon Callaghan; Mary Holton; Chris Sanders; Paul Worth.
The production team consisted of Rachel Adams and Simon Callaghan as director and musical director, also Linden Wint and Stephanie Hardern as cho reographic assistants; Dave Callaghan as stage manager; Di Heys as assistant stage manager; Richard Innes, Stan Davies, John Watts, Thomas O'Dell and team as stage crew; Jayne Turnball, Fiona Miller and Rachel Gill in charge of properties; Carol Wint, Kay Banks, Pat Thomason in charge of wardrobe; the dressers were Mrs. Cook, Annette Bradley, Dorothy Ramsbottom, Jacqui Banks, Gil Warrilow, Yeng Wah Leung and team; sound engineers were Chris Edwards and Tim Hopkins; lighting designers were Martin Lawton and Tom Watson; followspot operators were Carol Wint and Michael Stanley; Tom Watson was the lighting operator; make-up was done by Sarah Chadwick; cast announcer, Kay Banks; prompt, Pam Mien; stage set by I.X. Designs of Telford; house manager, Philip Adams; front of house, Mary Adams, Gill Ball and team; bar manager, Howard Ball; refreshments, Pat Thomason; first aid, Howard Ball and Di Heys; publicity, Rosina Morrison; ticket secretary, Mary Adams.
N.S.