Players embrace the magic of Mel

Oldham’s Congress Players goosestep their way into their big new show this week — having just picked up a trio of regional awards for their previous one.

Oldham’s major amateur theatre company opens Mel Brooks’ legendary comedy musical The Producers at the Coliseum tomorrow, having received recognition for best actor, best director and best supporting actress at the annual National Operatic and Dramatic Association’s North-West awards.

The wins — for Gary Jones (Best Actor), Mike Sammon (director) and Sarah Thewlis (supporting actress) — were for last summer’s Congress show, Singin’ in the Rain, and made Congress the only society in the North-West to win more than one award on the night.

“It was an amazing achievement — even though winning awards is just the icing on the cake,” said chairman Paul Osbaldiston.

“We do this to raise money for charity — and have given tens of thousands of pounds to charities over the past 30 years,’ he added.

Congress now believe the omens are strong for The Producers, which runs until June 11.

Smash hit
The comedy musical, written by Mel Brooks and based on his own classic movie comedy of the same name, was a smash hit on Broadway and in London and pokes irreverent fun at the theatre business, the Nazis and even rich little old ladies, with world-famous numbers such as Springtime for Hitler.

The show sees Oldham favourite Rodney Cadd as Max Bialystock, a veteran producer down on his luck, who tries to stage the world’s worst musical — so it will close on opening night and he can take all the investors’ money.

Local stars Jon Crebbin and award-winner Sarah Thewlis appear in supporting roles and Max’s much-oppressed sidekick, accountant Leopold Bloom, is played by Martin Preston.

All profits will be donated to childrens cancer charity, Kidscan. Tickets from the Coliseum box office on 0161 624 2928.