St Philips cast gives polished performance
11:12pm Monday 15th March 2010 in Theatre
The Likes of Us St Philips AODS Bridgeman Street, Bolton Runs until Saturday (no show Wednesday) YOU could be forgiven for fearing St Philips AODS may have bitten off more than they could chew by deciding to stage the musical The Likes of Us.
I have to confess I was slightly apprehensive as I settled down to watch the performance on the opening night but I was soon proved wrong.
This was a very polished production that would do Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice proud.
The musical was witten by the pair in 1965 and was their first musical collaboration. It is based on the life of Dr Thomas Barnardo, a young medical student who gives up his plans to be a missionary in China when he realised the desperate extent of homelessness of children in London.
This realisation led to the foundation of the famous children's homes and the organisation bearing his name.
The story is set in mid-Victorian London and opens at the Edinburgh Castle Gin Palace - an East End drinking haunt where Rose (played to perfection by Teresa Harper) sings about her rather dubious career.
Barnardo has ventured in to the East End to sell Bibles and meets with a range of colourful characters who help him decide where his future will lie.
He soon realises he is needed more in London than he will be in China.
This is a strong storyline with some deeply moving characterisations that work well.
It is part love story and part historical documentation and delivers on both counts.
The audience (lovely to see so many people there) thoroughly enjoyed every minute from start to finish - the raptuous applause at the end proved it.
Robert Peace was superbly cast in the lead role of Barnardo and Ann Marie Duckworth was equally top class as his love interest Syrie Elmslie.
This was a very entertaining production with some fine singing voices. The children were superb, the costumes perfect and the use of a narrator on a television screen was a clever touch.
Gayle McBain
