Wiltshire Times

FRIDAY, MAY 20, 1988

High quality Oklahoma a credit to Society

BIG, bold and brash, Trowbridge Amateur Operatic Society went for a touch of Broadway in their latest pro­duction, Oklahoma, a tale of love and marriage in the U.S. at the turn of the century.

And, judging by the reaction of the Trowridge faithful aidst the whoops and yee-haas at the Civic Hall on Tuesday’s opening night, the mammoth cast of nearly 70, plus orchestra of 25, got it just about spot-on in their quest for a quality show.

It helps when your major characters are talented and accomplished, but right through the cast there was hardly a flaw as all attacked their tasks with an enjoyment which transmitted itself to the large and attentive audience.

Pick of the bunch was Allison Lomax as Laurey, the beautiful girl destined to go to the dance with the sinister, lonely farmhand Jud, played superbly by Frank Martin.

But she had wonderful support from Michael Kemp as her future husband, Curly, and the likeable pedlar Ali Hakin (Robert Knowles).

Paul Butler displayed great energy and more than a little of his dancing technique as the extrovert Will Parker, destined to marry the lovable flirt, Annie Carnes ( Joan Francis).

But right through, from Curly's opening of "Oh What a Beautiful Morning", through Jud's "Lonely Room" to a rousing finale from the whole cast, the society's version of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, which runs until tomorrow, used the best musicians and the best voices to the greatest effect.

Oh What a Beautiful Evening!

Characters: Patricia Davies, Michael Kemp, Allison Lomax, Kenneth Hansford, Sean Andrews, Paul Butler, Frank Martin, Joan Francis, Robert Knowles, Tina Foxon, Janet Knowles, Glanville Davies and Derek Self.

Gentlemen's chorus: Sean Andrews, Don Boyland, Danny Greatwood, Les Hampton, Ken Hansford, Tony Kenich, Colin Knight, John Lindsay, Norman Pascall, John Rowe, Derek Self, Les Webb, Mike Wood.

Ladies chorus: Sue Asplin, Jenny Ayland, Lilian Bainton, Irene Bayley, Claire Brown, Juliet Clarke, Kath Cowdroy, Rebecca Davison, Ros Davison, Joanna Foxon, Pattie Franklyn, Maria Greatwood, Mary Harding, Elizabeth Hilton, June James, Becka Leat, Ann Lindsay, Kate Luckett, Viv Luckett, Louise Martin, June Morphew, Jean Phelps, Kathryn Rees, Pat Simpson, Chris Smith, Lyn Taylor, Sophie Turnbull, Daphne Wood, Karen Yates.