NEWSLETTER 3 - FEBRUARY 2001

Welcome to the third edition of our newsletter. We hope that you are all well in 2001, and are looking forward to the ROS year ahead.

Within this epistle we hope to bring you reviews about the Autumn Show 2000, Social news, the Spring Concert 201 and our wonderful Autumn Show 2001. So a little bit of the old and a great deal of the new!

Redditch Operatic Society would like to wish a very warm welcome to all the new members joining the Society in 2001. We hope you enjoy all the activities you engage in as part of the Society.

The next newsletter will be available in the Summer, so if you have anything to say please let us know. This is your opportunity to contact all members of the Society easily and quickly.

Important News

There are two important dates to put in your diaries. On the 13 March there will be an Extraordinary General Meeting, held at Community House in Easemore Road. The meeting will begin at 7.30pm and will last for 30 minutes because there will be a rehearsal afterwards.

This EGM has been called to discuss and vote on suggested changes to the Society's constitution. The committee have discussed several aspects of the constitution that needs updating. It is important that we have as many members present as possible. This is your Society so please use this opportunity to express your opinion.

The Annual General Meeting will also be held at Community House and will be on 22 May at 7.45pm. As usual the President, Chairman and Treasurer will present their respective reports. The Society will also elect the new committee for 2001/02. We will look forward to seeing you all at this important event. Remember it is your Society and your opinion counts.

Sweet Reviews...

As you will all know our last show Sweet Charity was a huge hit for the Society. All involved in the show agreed that it was a wonderful musical with a very talented cast and quite different from pieces the Society has performed in the past.

The musical score provided a new challenge for the company and musicians and our success with it is a real tribute to our Musical Director Norma Kift. The orchestra had a wonderful sound which brought the show to life and we also thank our talented accompanist Michael Higgins.

A special thanks goes to Alison Adams who played Charity, who played this demanding part to perfection. Congratulations also to all the other members of the cast and company who put a great deal into this show to make it the success it was.

Our brilliant Director, Paul Jones, had a very different idea of how to dress the stage and although the starkness was not liked by everyone it was a clear success because:

"...it concentrates the mind on the happy coquetry of Alison Adams, startlingly charged with opening the evening on her own." (Evening Mail, 23/11/2000).

The Redditch Advertiser also praise Alison Adams and said that she "has a great singing voice and a flair for the American accent." Her sidekicks Nickie (played by Elizabeth Bird) and Helene (played by Penny Hoy) "made a good duo". We were particularly pleased with the comment "...Sweet Charity was pulled off with the usual style for which the group is renowned." (Redditch Advertiser, 29/11/2000).

The show's review in the Redditch Standard was no less impressive. "The ROS rose to the challenge very well..." because "this is an ambitious musical demanding strong principal voices and clever stage management to cope with the variety of music and difficult stage settings. The main characters were excellent, especially Alison Adams who hardly left the stage. She acted the part of cheeky dance hall hostess with conviction and performed numerous solo pieces, the most enjoyable of which was 'If My Friends Could See Me Now', which earned rousing applause. Another excellent musical interlude was 'The Rhythm Of Life' performed by Mark Williams (as Daddy Brubeck) and supported by the company. Both the complex harmony and quick tempo showed the cast in their best light" (Redditch Standard, 1/12/2000).

All reviews are available in full on the website (see here) created and edited by Tony Jay.

Social Events

Hiya! Here we are again, it's a brand new year, it's February, it's the start of the concert rehearsals and we all have colds! Well, to cheer us up and take our minds off our sneezes and get over our spending at Christmas, we are putting together a calendar of events. Some of you have requested such as another karaoke night and some are new events including walks and shows. I have had a lot of people tell me how great the after show party was, which is brilliant.

Of course, there will be the usual events like the garden party and barbecues. Our bonfire night celebration was a great success. It was great to see events being attended so well.

Remember if you want to do a special event, see a show or take a walk, then let us know. If nothing on the list takes your fancy then let us know what does. Don't forget it's YOUR Society!

Alison Adams and I are in the process of compiling a comprehensive list, so keep watching the notice board for more details. Once again, thanks for attending these events and remember to purchase your weekly raffle tickets from me.

Michelle Hill, Social Secretary

Concert Tour: Legends

'Legends' is our concert title this year. The Society has put together a stunning range of music from various performers throughout the twentieth century. From the Beatles to the Carpenters and from Frank Sinatra to the Bee Gees there is something for everyone.

The auditions for principal singing parts were held on Sunday 14 February. As always there was a very high standard and thank you to everyone who took part. Congratulations to all who were successful!

We look forward to a successful tour but we need all your help in selling tickets.

Broadway Pirates!

We are already thinking about the Autumn Show 2001. With the talents of Ben Hatton and Tony Lacey as co-directors this show is sure to be a winner.

"It would be nice to do a show where we can have a real sing." This was overheard during 'Sweet Charity' rehearsals, so the choice of Broadway Pirates should meet this request ably.

It is a rollicking version of the Gilbert and Sullivan favourite. It has the same libretto and book, but updates the score into a brassy, high kicking Broadway romp.

2001 sees the 20th anniversary of the Broadway opening which had a cast lead by Kevin Kline, Patricia Routlege and Linda Ronstadt. It ran for 772 performances and won 6 Tony awards. The British production ran at Drury Lane for over a year and starred George Cole, Tim Curry and Pamela Stevenson.

The seven principal roles are supported by three distinct choruses - the incompetent but kitsch pirates, the Keystone Cop-style police and eight feisty daughters.

There is a lot more music to learn than usual, quite a few numbers to be choreographed, slapstick to be worked out and the need to add as many 'asides', ad-libs, topical jokes, pratfalls, camperie and swashbuckles as we can. This will all mean a lot of hard work, but it should be fun. So put June 5 in your diary for the first rehearsal where the production will be explained further and there will be a chance to hear some of the music and see some clips from the 1983 film version of the show.

Love, Tony and Bev

A Final Word

The Millennium Cavalcade raised £300 of money for charity. We now need a good way to spend our share of £150. The Society is asking for your suggestions of local causes you feel should be considered. Thank you!

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