Wiltshire Times

Friday, 28th May 2010

A huge cast exploded on to the stage to the sound of sirens in a wartime scene from Trowbridge Amateur Operatic Society’s latest production.

The spectacular musical tells the story of a warring mother and father from neighbouring families, whose daughter and son respectively fall in love with each other.

The cast featured an array of children who burst into life with song and games.

The youngest, smallest and most adorable actors were undoubtedly Lola Brady and Aled Heaton who really put the ‘aah’ factor into this musical.

The packed audience clearly loved Mrs Blitztein, expertly played by Jacs Brady. She commanded the stage and you could empathise with her, a single mum-of-seven torn by her children’s choices in life.

Sarah Hanks was marvellous as one of Mrs Blitztein’s daughters, Elsie. The moment she stripped down to her undergarment was hilarious and with her larger figure she simply oozed confidence.

Carol Blitztein (Dora Bishop), the daughter in love, was less convincing. The character failed to move me despite her tragic situation.

However, the lady in the next seat, in her 80s, said it brought back her own wartime memories, so that sounds like a job well done.