Reporter: Dr Joe Dawson
Date online: 12/06/2008

This has become an extremely popular and eagerly anticipated annual event as the capacity house testified.

Using a script by Charles Foster but making the presentation his very own was Martin Henfield (BBC North West). His personality and anecdotes helped the continuity no end and the script was succinct, informative and full of appropriate hyperbole.

He introduced local stars of the amateur operatic scene - Anne Birchenough, Julie Colson, Claire Crebbin, Kathryn Dennerley, Freda Farnworth and Suzanne Mather - and men John Rawson, Ian Parratt, Peter Whitefield with Jon Crebbin making a brief but appearance in the finale.

All acquitted themselves well with some exceptional moments but the team effort outweighed individual star spots.

Showboat, Oklahoma, Ivor Novello and West Side Story were condensed in the first half.

Choirs from the music service added some youthful colour in numbers from Oliver but the second half was mainly given over to Andrew Lloyd Webber, notably the lively Jesus Christ Superstar finale.

The Simon Pickup Ensemble made a reasonable job of the pop backings but I prefer the solo singers to have more leeway for their individual expression.

But this was a highly entertaining evening provided by our own stars in our own town - and a lot better than watching the tv.

A Night at the Musicals
Springhill Hospice
Gracie Fields Theatre
14 June 2003