llanblogger preview
Llangollen Operatic Society is releasing a set of desperate jailbirds plus a bunch of equally hardcore screws onto Town Hall audiences this week.
From
tomorrow (Wednesday) until Saturday a talented 17-strong cast – backed as usual by a highly
competent production team and an accomplished orchestra – have been set free to
present Bad Girls the Musical.
But
if you’re thinking previous of prison-themed musicals you might have seen, forget
it. Because Jailhouse Rock this definitely ain’t.
Based
on the smash-hit TV drama series from the 1990s, the action takes place inside the
fictitious Larkhill women's prison.
But despite the dark comedy, which is ladeled out as thickly as prison porridge, and the excellent songs which accompany and fuel the action, this is strong stuff, with themes such as sexual exploitation, suicide and drug dependence tackled head on. And that means the dialogue is hard core too.
The
opening scene of a young prisoner being put through the usual demeaning process –
including a humiliating strip-search - of being checked in for her time behind
bars sets the tone for the whole piece.
As
the plot develops we gradually meet more of her fellow inmates and prison officers whose character weaknesses and strengths are magnified by their mutually captive
situation. We see loud, brash and
violent prisoners become protective of one another, or “screws” with dark traits become even darker.
But, despite the challenging subject matter, this is a
wonderfully well-handled piece of musical theatre with a polished cast which includes some real gems, such as Naomi Riley and Amie Harrison-Bickley
as, respectively, prisoners Nikki Wade and Shell Dockley, and Louisa Jones and
Sue O’Neill as officers Helen Stewart and Sylvia Hollamby.
* ... but there's also some glitz on occasions.
Turning in a particularly fine take on loathsome principal officer Fenner is Kevin Williams.
There’s also some neat old lag-style
cameos from log-time Operatic favourites Chris Platt and Jan Bellis.
The stage sets are bang-on from
what we know of our grim Victorian nicks, and production values, masterminded
by joint producers Tracey Kempster-Jones and Caroline Anthonisz, are extremely high.
Direction is as spot-on as we’ve
come to expect from Chrissie Ashworth and choreography – yes, they do dance
rather well around G Wing when they're not being abusive or violent – is skilfully guided by Sarah Marshall and Rob
Stevens.
Stylish musical direction comes courtesy of Elen Mair Roberts.
Stage management is in the
capable hands of Tessa Orton-Jones and sound smoothly done by JB Sound.
* Bad Girls is on at Llangollen Town Hall from Wednesday May 22 to Saturday May 25 with a matinee on the Saturday afternoon. Tickets are available from: www.ticketsource.co.uk/llangollenoperaticsociety
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