By W.S Gilbert & A. Sullivan

Our review as appeared in the Penarth Times on Thursday March 25th 2004

If a concept is a new idea then the Concept Players are well named judging by their production of Ruddigore, staged last week in the Paget Rooms. This well loved G&S piece is performed often enough to need a fresh approach and director Janet Holloway is to be praised for the innovative twist she gave this production. Starting as a bedtime story to amuse her grandchildren, well played by Luke Wadden, Grandma, played by the director, recounted the ancient curse of Ruddigore. She used the children's toys as characters in the story, the cast then appear as replicas of the toys to tell the story to us and the children.

Stars of the production had to be Dancing Dollies (ladies chorus), who were costumed and made up to represent a row of cut out paper dolls. The heroine, Rose, was prettily played by lovely Ellie Hoare.

Each character in the story was introduced by Grandma who brought the toy equivalent from the toy box. It was cleverly done and fine performances were given by all the cast. Mention must be made of Anne Braley, the rag doll who became Mad Margaret, who crawled the stage, rode a scooter and a skateboard, singing beautifully all the whiles. Basingstoke it was Anne!

Jo Herco was the musical director. The Concept Players boast  some excellent singers and they were in fine form last week, well trained by Jo. Typically for a G&S Operetta, the score was complicated, fast and furious in places, wordy with a rich texture of harmonies. The cast coped extremely well with it all, keeping clarity and energy levels high from start to finish.

This is Concept Players' 10th year and they are proving to be a clever and versatile company, performing musicals, operettas and plays - especially farces, and tour their productions to several local theatres. Judging by the audience's obvious enjoyment, they were very well received at the Paget rooms.

I look forward to their next visit.

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