‘Sixpence’ a success

Press, 26 March 1981, Page 4

‘Sixpence ’ a success

By HEATH LEES f ’’lt is well known that the musical, “Half a Sixpence,” was written as a vehicle for the. multifarious talents of ‘tommy Steele. . It-does; not attempt to follow a plot or provide for any real characterisation, but forms a series of tableaux which are con* riveted by unlikely events and: lots of,good fun, ....... >The shdw'us a mixture of the .modern .plunderings ofShaw and, Dickens, and fails fo make any great over-all ifipressiori. as a theatrical piece. The songs tore stereotyped and ioften bland, though “Flash,Bang, Walldp”', still packs a punch. - ’What really counts is the sheer ebullience that it offers, and the Christchurch Operatic Society's tproduction which, opened last evening;.. at :the‘- ? Carries Hay

Theatre and will run until April 11 has lots of gaiety and laughter. ■ ' The staging is enormously varied, sometimes almost oo fussy, new sest .pap too fussy, new sets appearing throughout from a seemingly inexhaustible roof. The lighting is cleverly contrived and the ."'costumes are often magnificent. . •rWhahappeals most 'though is the professional .commitment projected by '-the whole cast, in spite; of/tthe mediocrernature of theijiiece itself.’. Dancing-' is well* co-or-dinated and the production numbers ; never flAgi ; The singing has been, ‘-'carefully rehearsed and sounds well,, even the solo numbers comi ing -across . in .spigot...the .stage arid-hall, Of : the, principals At- would be possible to congratulate

them all for the convincing effect of their performances, but Bryan Jones should be specially, mentioned as Chit- : terlow, the eccentric playwright full of bluff and posture, but whose Jieart is always in exactly the right place. - Sarah* Davison, as the song’says, knows who she is,- and gives, real life to an implausible role., ■ ' Bryan Aitken; also adds life to the role of Arthur Kipps, a part -which .demands much and which even Tommy Steele found difficult to handle in the original production. His singing and dancing are both highly effective and his presence provides much of the main impetus,for- a production which has all the-hallmarks of another success '»for the (society,