Reporter: Colin Meredith
Date online: 11/06/2008

It is always difficult to find good Musicals for young people to perform, however Whitworth Amateur Musical & Dramatic Society came up trumps when they chose Shake Ripple & Roll for their junior members to perform.

Everyone can relate to an ice cream parlour, which is where the musical is set, and Terry Banham as narrator and private detective Dirk Manley introduces us to the characters and the setting in 1950's New York.

Robert Stott is a likeable and strong Joey Nobody who works in Uncle Angelo's ice cream parlour for his demanding boss Mr Cohen, played by Chris Banham.

There was a large well choreographed chorus of customers who werewaited on by an appealing and energetic quartet of waitresses.

The plot revolves around the sudden death of Uncle Angelo and who is going to inherit the parlour. This is the cue for the glamorous Carys Maitland to enter as the star Deanna la Domme claiming to be the only remaining relative of Uncle Angelo. She was ably assisted by her obedient chauffeur Max played by the diminutive Tobias Porter.

The musical numbers came thick and fast just like a good whipped ice cream. The whole parlour was rocking with the title number Shake Ripple & Roll which involved all the company.

The second half involves the search for the will and the final revelation that Joey Nobody is in fact somebody and the rightful heir to the ice cream parlour.

The strong band of musicians deserve a particular mention for their valuable contribution in this production.

This show is an excellent vehicle for a large company of young people and director Stuart Forbes and his team got the best out of the company in all departments. They are all to be congratulated on a great team performance and must be happy in the knowledge that they have so much young talent to secure the future of the society.

JAWS
Whitworth Civic Hall