Double-bill brings past back to life

Merrie England and The Arcadians (Oldham Choral Society, Middleton Arena)
OLDHAM Choral Society have their own time machine. Last Sunday we were transported to the Edwardian era of light comedy with a superb double-bill of concert versions of both “Merrie England” and “The Arcadians”, both highly successful 100 years ago and brought to life with exquisite sharpness at Middleton Arena.

The 100-strong Choral Society, with guest singers taking the principal roles, were magnificently accompanied by The National Festival Orchestra under the buoyant baton of Nigel Wilkinson, who melded choir and orchestra into a seamless unity, presenting a well-crafted performance of these two great Edwardian favourites.

The packed arena of operetta aficionados joined in with gusto, singing along with “Very Charming Weather”, “All down Piccadilly” and “The Pipes of Pan”, from The Arcadians. “Merrie England” was all the better for being abridged as it allowed Donald Maxwell, as narrator, to bring us up to date with the plot.

He wittily spanned the 100-year gap with aplomb and even risked comparing Arcady with . . . Rochdale!

SF