Oh! What a Lovely War – Aunty Jen Productions, Feckenham Village Hall
THIS was probably AJP’s most ambitious project yet – a 21st Century revival of a 60s anti-war hit musical and screen film centred on the First World War.
This at a time when the nation is marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings to free Western Europe from the tyranny of the Nazis – in the Second World War.
But such is the energy and panache this group of players bring to the stage that somehow, incredibly, they pull it off.
The show wasn’t perfect – some of the dialogue was lost – but all six actors, playing a variety of roles, were uniformly excellent in conveying the sheer crass incompetence that first led to the start of World War One and then the slaughter of millions.
Cheery music hall songs were punctuated by grim reports from the front detailing the casualties in their tens of thousands.
The players could switch instantly from braying major generals in a ballroom vying for overall command to poor old Tommy Atkins crouching in his trench as another ‘whizzbang’ came whistling over.
In fact there were loads of highlights, including Neville Cann’s command of gobbledygook in German!
So, take a bow Liam Atton, Neville Cann Kaz Luckins – who does a wonderfully posh voice – John Messer, Nicolette Morgan and Jen Rigby.
The singing was uniformly excellent and had this reviewer humming and even breaking into song.
The final performance is today, Saturday, June 8 at Studley Sports and Social Club.
It promises to be a fantastic affair.
Ross Crawford
Studley is holding a D-Day family fun day marking the 80th anniversary of the landings today, Saturday, June 8 at Studley Sports and Social Club. All welcome.
STUDLEY is marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings with a themed family fun day which will culminate in Aunty Jen Production’s Oh! What A Lovely War.There promises to be loads of things to see and do and to entertain. All welcome.
