Blonde Bombshells of 1943 by Alan Plater. Director Mark Babych. Musical Director Howard Gray.

Wartime Comedy with Swing Band Classics. Great Fun.

A glamorous Northern all-girl swing band keeps losing members, particularly when American GIs are stationed nearby. Band leader Betty needs to recruit fresh talent for a BBC broadcast and she gets a schoolgirl, a nun, an upper-class tart and a draft dodger.

Alan Plater has written a very funny script and the comic timing is spot on. The versatile cast astonish and delight; switching with ease from acting, to a wide range of instruments, then singing. The cool bluesy songs are all beautifully delivered; they’re sultry and sexy, moody and touching.

Rosie Jenkins stands out as Miranda, the upper-class tart; she has great lines to deliver and her entire performance is bright and funny. She’s a joy to watch and, while she sings ‘Body and Soul’, the audience becomes very still.

Pam Jolley executes ‘Ribbon Bow’ very well but disappoints as Elizabeth, the sixth former, instead coming across as an over-excited ten to twelve year old but, apart from that distraction, it’s a terrific show, full of great music and fun.

Musical Director Howard Gray has come up with a range of songs from wistful and heartfelt to cheerful and funny; the first half of the show features soulful jazz and swing including ‘Memories of You’, Body and Soul’, ‘When I Grow Too Old To Dream’ and, in the second half, during the show scene, with the band glammed up in red satin and blonde wigs, he ups the tempo with ‘Don’t Sit Under The Apple Tree’, ‘Wish Me Luck’, ‘Goodbyee’, and ‘The Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy’. The cast hop from one thing to another with barely time for breath. Everyone goes home smiling.

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