Connecting professional and amateur theatre in Newbury, West Berkshire and beyond

Newbury Operatic Society
NOS logo

The Newbury Operatic Society web site is at www.newburyoperatic.co.uk

Last production

West End to Broadway, 27th to 29th October 2011
Come and join us for a glittering night of music from great musical shows that have played in the West End of London and on Broadway in New York. The concert features songs from Hairspray, Wicked, Anything Goes, Rent, Guys and Dolls, Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, Mack and Mabel, Annie Get Your Gun, Ragtime, Crazy For You and many others.

Tickets

From the web site or the NOS Box Office telephone line 07501 171573.

Where

St Barts School, Andover Road, Newbury, RG14 6JP

Previous productions

Beauty and the Beast, 12th to 16th April 2011
The Mikado, 28th to 30th October 2010. See the review in the Archive.
Fiddler on the Roof, 7th to 10th April 2010. See the review in the Archive.
Night at the Oscars, 22nd to 24th October 2009
Kiss Me, Kate, 14th to 18th April 2009. See the review in the Archive.
Jack the Ripper, 16th to 18th October 2008
The Pajama Game, 8th to 12th April 2008. See the review in the Archive.
The Pirates of Penzance, 18th to 20th October 2007. See the review in the Archive.
Thoroughly Modern Millie, 10th to 14th April 2007. See the review in the Archive.
Calamity Jane, 18th to 22nd April 2006. See the review in the Archive.
Old Tyme Music Hall, 15th to 16th September 2006
Calamity Jane, 18th to 22nd April 2006
Hello Dolly!, 29th March to 2nd April 2005. See the review in the Archive.
Into the Woods, 2nd to 3rd July 2004. See the review in the Archive.
HMS Pinafore and The Zoo, 13th to 17th April 2004. See the review in the Archive.
South Pacific, 22nd to 26th April 2003. See the review in the Archive.
Trial By Jury, 10th October 2003, at the Ramada Hotel, Elcot Park.
A Gilbert & Sullivan Evening, 24th and 25th October 2002. See the review in the Archive.
Oklahoma!, 2nd to 6th April 2002. See the review in the Archive.
My Fair Lady, 17th to 21st April 2001. See the review in the Archive.

Review of Beauty and the Beast

12th to 16th April 2011.

Review from the Newbury Weekly News.

A sprinkling of stardust

Newbury Operatic Society: Disney's Beauty and the Beast, at the Corn Exchange, from Tuesday, April 12 to Saturday, April 16

As I waited for the curtain to rise, that phrase about treading softly because you tread on my dreams came into my mind. The small, curly-haired girl in the seat in front of mine was dressed up for this special theatre trip and full of wonder, and I hoped that this latest Newbury Operatic Society production would not damage her joy in fairy tales.

I need not have worried. This was a fine and magical show.

A reviewer always has difficulty in giving credit without turning the piece into a list of names. With such a large cast I will simply say that there was not a weak link either in principal roles or the lively chorus numbers. Nevertheless there are those who deserve particular praise. Clare Butler's lovely voice suited the role of Belle and Martin Rogers made an effective Beast, alternately exciting fear and compassion.

For me, however, the stars of this production were Richard George as a gloriously conceited Gaston, striding about the stage with his sidekick Lefou (a brilliant performance from Aiden Strickland) and Jon Lovell revealing a great talent for comedy in the role of Lumière and leading the company in a fantastically intricate, hilarious Be Our Guest. This last was just one of the slick routines choreographed by Nicola Rogers to whom my congratulations.

Then there was Paul Hyde as Belle's deliciously rural Dad, Maurice, in No Matter What, Helen Bonner as the tea-potted Mrs Potts singing the title song sensitively and warmly, some eerily realistic and fearsome slithery wolves (great costumes), the delightfully daft group of Silly Girls and... oh dear, this is turning into a list.

It was a brave decision by NOS to take on this much loved fairy-tale, not only because of the cost involved, and I had my doubts beforehand as to whether they could pull it off. Undoubtedly they did and it will go down on my files as one of the best NOS productions I have seen. With Jeremy Mann directing and Michael Evans, as always a stalwart in charge of the excellent orchestra, this was a production which must have sent that curly-haired tot home with stars in her eyes.

CAROLINE FRANKLIN