WITH party poppers streaming, the Bere Ferrers Players got off to a fine start with their Old Thyme Music Hall Revue, Deja Vu, staged in the church hall on February 27 and 28.
The Friday Night Singers (?Swingers) initiated the proceedings with the emphasis being on pure unadulterated fun.
A splendid miscellany of acts ranging from songs, sketches, recitations, comedy acts to musical entertainment via harp and guitar and even a magic lantern show was on offer for the delectation and delight of the packed audiences, all expertly presented by the debonair Master of Ceremonies Brian Lamb.
The hidden talents of Bere Ferrers villagers were exposed, with solos by Avril Butler, who performed Stanley Holloway?s cautionary tale of ?Albert and the Lion?, and Basil Bell?s rendition of ?The Green Eye of the Little Yellow God?.
Ann Parsons contributed songs and lilting Scottish airs supremely suited to her soprano voice, accompanied on a variety of instruments.
The incomparable duo Marcel and Tilly Kelly produced magic and mayhem with their burlesque telepathy act ?What?s on Your Mind? and folk singer Jane Musgrave entertained with Maggie May whilst the audience joined in enthusiastically with ?Oom Pah Pah? from the musical Oliver.
The Bere Thespiettes became entangled in an amusing playlet by Hilaire Belloc, meanwhile harpist Timothy Hampson performed Pachelbel?s melodic Canon, and pieces from Paraguay.
The first act was brought to a riotous end when ladies from Bere Ferrers WI revealed previously unknown talents plus a lot more with their Calendar Girls pastiche ? naughty but nice.
This sketch was conceived and performed when the now famous WI Calendar was first published.
During the interval Timothy Hampson performed Carolan?s Concerto, the best dressed members of the audience received prizes and the raffle was drawn.
Opening the second act were Clive Charlton and Tim Hamlyn recollecting the tough Tavy Times of the 1860s.
This was followed by the piece de resistance, a magic lantern show, a veritable blockbuster by Beer Town Productions ? ?The Shooting of Dan McGrew? filmed naturally in the saloon known as The Old Plough Inn!
The Tavy Tars, accompanied by Jane Musgrave on guitar, narrated a ghostly tale centred on Cape Horn, together with a song from the Canadian Forests complete with a cross-dressing Lumberjack who shall remain nameless!
Music from the shows featured the gentlemen of the Friday Night Singers with their version of ?Get Me to the Church on Time?, with the ladies performing ?Waiting at the Church? and ?Wouldn?t it be Luvverley? from My Fair Lady.
Meanwhile that old favourite ?Burlington Bertie?, by the Friday Night Singers, was well received.
The evening reached a new resounding climax with an assembly of well loved music hall songs, culminating in Auld Lang Syne ? participation was obligatory for all.
The Master of Ceremonies thanked all the participants for a munificent evening, in particular the director Mrs Monica Mitchell, the producer Joseph Gilling, accompanists Mrs Ann Parsons and Mrs Cathy Sirey, and stage managers Mrs Caroline Clark and Miss Ann Jeffries.
The entire production was in aid of St Andrew?s Church and village charities.
ANN ENDEAN
l Pictures of the production appear on pages 18 and 43