Society’s show on a Bali Hai

SOUTH PACIFIC, Oldham Coliseum
ASHTON Operatic Society finds itself on the beach in Oldham and the result is one of the company’s better productions of recent years.

Unencumbered by the need to fill the large stage of its old home, Tameside Hippodrome, and now unrestrained by the small stage and low ceiling at Mossley’s George Lawton Hall, Ashton OS has room to breathe, great lighting, excellent sound and a theatre small enough to be inviting without being cramped.

The society has even gone to town by acquiring a film of the sea lapping the beach on a South Sea island, projected as a backdrop throughout the action.

But South Pacific is nothing if not strongly sung, and here Ashton pulls out its howitzer.

Jon Crebbin’s voice is well known around the region and here he adds a sympathetic French accent to play and sing plantation owner Emile with grace and charm. His is a real performance; lovely singing matched by confident acting and impressive stage presence.

Opposite him, Vicky Stott must try harder to convince as Navy nurse Nellie, but when she sings any doubts are dispelled; her voice is sweet, her character very likeable.

Other characters are impressive too: Phil Harrison needs to be a little snappier as Billis, but his heart is in the right place; Adam Whittle as Cable acts strongly and sings with great confidence, and Joanne Gill is entertaining as Bloody Mary.

Supporting players all seem in tune with the show and its period and this makes for an entertaining evening.

Which is not to say the evening wouldn’t be better with a bit more snap and imagination in Anthony Williams’ direction — large-cast numbers tend to look a bit aimless; while scenes generally need more pace and naturalness.

Some of this is caused by weaknesses in the material — top-flight pro productions gloss over these with spectacle and speed; but some, on opening night, was also undoubtedly caused by the show’s rawness in a strange theatre.

So some things will get better, some things can’t, and some are already as good as we could hope for. Shame the company can’t be back next year, but no doubt they already have a booking in for 2013.