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A young girl recounts the story of her Gradmother's experiences in an all-girl band operating in war-torn England in 1943. The 'Blonde Bombshells' had just been awarded the opportunity they had been waiting for, a chance to play on BBC Radio. But it came at a time when the band's numbers had been halved by departures. Desperate to restore their quorum in time for the radio show, the remaining members then lined up four new girls for auditions. But the girls who turned up were not at all what was expected, a schoolgirl, a nun, an upper-crust 'it' girl and, last but not least, a draft-dodging man! But beggars can't be choosers, and when each of the newcomers proved themselves to be musically talented they were all co-opted into the band. A German air-raid then drove the girls into a shelter to rehearse until the 'all-clear' then it was off to 'a North-East Coastal Town' to give their big concert.
Musical Numbers
If I had a Ribbon Bow
Memories of You
In My Little Snapshot Album
Body and Soul
Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree
Until the Real Thing Comes Along
When I Grow Too Old to Dream
Where or When
T'Aint What Cha Do
I Lift Up My Finger
Cavalry of the Steppes
Tuxedo Junction
Home Town
If I had a Ribbon Bow [reprise]
Wish Me Luck
Goodbye
The Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy
Based upon the TV play starring Dame Judi Dench, this production is perhaps more accurately described as a play with music rather than a musical in the normal sense. The difference is that whilst the music in this unusual production is very much integral to the story, it does not in itself advance the story but, rather, is incidental to it. All of the music is played live on stage by the performers themselves, who do a very creditable job of recreating the 1940's big band sound - albeit on a somewhat smaller scale.
The story revolves around the search to find four new recruits to make up the numbers of the band in time for a big new opportunity to appear on the radio. This part of the story takes up the whole of the first act, as the four existing band members hold auditions in a bombed out theatre. Betty, played by Charlotte Armer, is the leader of the group, May (Jane Milligan) is the somewhat misanthropic piano player, and Vera (Susie Emmett) and Grace (Barbara Hockaday), both of whom have lost a husband to the war, are an inseperable pair of wise-crackers. The production is in fact quite rich in humour, especially in the first half, most of it coming in the form of droll one-liners from May, and bitingly catty ones from Grace and Vera, and mostly at the expense of the newcomers.
The four new applicants turn out to be an even more eccentric lot, a fact which is not lost on the original four, especially Vera and Grace who rag them mercilessly. The first new arrival, Liz (Laura Stevely) is a schoolgirl whose naivety is matched only by that of nun Lily (Sarah Whittuck). Neither of them have any idea of the double-entendres with which Lily's introductory piece, rather suggestive George Formby song played complete with ukelele, is laden. Then comes Miranda (Rosie Jenkins), an incredibly sexy society girl who claims she can make music out of anything she can blow into! Last but not least is Pat (Matthew Ganley), a draft-dodging male who is prepared to dress up as a woman if it will help to keep him out of the army.
If the first act is about developing the characters then the second is mostly taken up with the radio show in 'Ull which the girls have been preparing for, and at this point the production really steps up a gear as we are treated to their whole concert performance. Playing on a glittering stepped bandstand in a plush studio, and all decked out in blonde wigs and ruby red dresses, the difference is chalk and cheese. The three new girls are formed into a vocal trio, which Betty has dubbed 'the Valentino Sisters' (because it sounds exotic), and they handle most of the show's vocals - with considerable success one might add. All three have fine voices and give some wonderful individual performances. Whittuck's Formby number, In My Little Snapshot Album, is a real hoot, and Stevely's If I had a Ribbon Bow is totally delightful. But when they sing together the effect is even, and the show ends, appropriately, with them singing the real showstopper of the evening, The Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.
Overall this is a happy and fun show without any great pretentions. It is not groundbreaking, but it certainly is different, and provides a refreshing change to the average run of the mill fare. The first half is perhaps a little slow, but the second half picks up the pace and fhe last half-hour where the band perform their concert gig is done with wonderful panache and is immensely enjoyable.
Fun and different with a strong cast and some immensely enjoyable music. Not a classic, but undoubtedly a winner.