The opening night was both good and bad but overall enjoyable.  The story & characters follow the TV series closely. The audience was about 95% female (surprise!) and there seemed to be a lot of northerners and quite a few people who knew the cast.
 
Slyvia (Sally McDonald) and the bad screw Fenner (Tony Bright) were excellent and had real verve and spark, especially Tony Bright bringing a real sense of sadistic menace to his role, although the actor who played the head governor hardly managed one line without a stumble, first night nerves perhaps?

I loved Yvonne (Julie Jordon) who played the gangsters missus, rough diamond, mutton as lamb mother figure in strutting leather trousers and delightfully tarty, she gelled the prisoners together and sang her heart out with one of the best numbers of the show, "All banged up without the bang". The lead prisoner Nicky (Veryan Jennings) had a good strong voice and her lesbian kiss got a cheer from the house.

Another highlight was the 1940s big band number by Fenner and Sylvia (or Body bag as they call her), who sang 'Big cheese' it involved some good tap dancing and was very funny. Well done to the musical director, Julie Mackrill for this fun staging.
 
This was a first night so there were some teething troubles, the invisible mics kept cutting in and out and the lighting timings were a little off and the spot would often follow people after they had moved, always a thing to bring out my giggles. However by the second half this had settled down, the cast had found their footing and it really got into it’s swing.

The audience loved it and half the house were on their feet at the end, so overall I think although it could have been a little tighter, this was an enthusiastic group of amateur performers, all cast well in their roles, obviously enjoying themselves and giving as good as they could to an audience who wanted it real bad. I can see why this company have recently achieved the National Operatic and Dramatic association's award of excellence.

An enjoyable, and funny night out. Well done to all involved!

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