The Cast
Milly - Sarah Creasey
Dorcas - Jane Pearce
Ruth - Amy Kent
Liza - Amy Power
Martha - Kate Ayres
Sarah - Fiona Haylock
Alice - Megan Abbott
Adam - Matthew Austin
Benjamin - Ian Anderson
Caleb - Hugh Pearce
Daniel - James Golder
Ephraim - Matthew Kerslake
Frank - Jamie Nuttal
Gideon - Will Storey
Carl - Steve Brooks
Luke - Jack Kent
Matt - William Johnson
Joel - Daniel Wagg
Zeke - David Mycock
Jeb - Michael Norman
Preacher - Chip Carpenter
Mr Bixby - Adrian Baxter
Mrs Bixby - Susan Power
Mr Perkins - Jimmy Harwood
Mrs Perkins - Sandra Johnson
The Chorus
Amy Camp
Karen Girdwood
Debbie Hiles
Laura Norman
Em Secker
Kristen Coucill
Gemma Laing
Natalie Mills
Jenny Read
Carol Storey
The Crew
Director - Penny Cooke
Musical Director - Mike Cooke
Choreographer - Penny Cooker
Assistant Choreographer - Jane Wallace
Assistant Producer - Judy Parsons
Lighting and Special Effects - Barry Ayres
Vocal Coach - Claire Cooper
Stage Manager - Kate Carpenter
Stage Crew - Richard Bennett, David Brammer and Mark Girdwood
Set Construction - Terry Cook, Mark Girdwood, William Storey, Simon Carpenter, Chip Carpenter,
Kate Carpenter, Hugh Pearce, Gemma Laing and Carol Storey
Wardrobe - Judy Parsons and Harvey Costumes
Make-up - Jenny Lewis
Props - Barbara Curtis and Margaret Mould
Programme - Kate Ayres and Will Storey
Box Office - Kate and Chip Carpenter
Front of House Cyril Pike, Nerys Brooks and member of the Watlington WI
Milly - Sarah Creasey
Dorcas - Jane Pearce
Ruth - Amy Kent
Liza - Amy Power
Martha - Kate Ayres
Sarah - Fiona Haylock
Alice - Megan Abbott
Adam - Matthew Austin
Benjamin - Ian Anderson
Caleb - Hugh Pearce
Daniel - James Golder
Ephraim - Matthew Kerslake
Frank - Jamie Nuttal
Gideon - Will Storey
Carl - Steve Brooks
Luke - Jack Kent
Matt - William Johnson
Joel - Daniel Wagg
Zeke - David Mycock
Jeb - Michael Norman
Preacher - Chip Carpenter
Mr Bixby - Adrian Baxter
Mrs Bixby - Susan Power
Mr Perkins - Jimmy Harwood
Mrs Perkins - Sandra Johnson
The Chorus
Amy Camp
Karen Girdwood
Debbie Hiles
Laura Norman
Em Secker
Kristen Coucill
Gemma Laing
Natalie Mills
Jenny Read
Carol Storey
The Crew
Director - Penny Cooke
Musical Director - Mike Cooke
Choreographer - Penny Cooker
Assistant Choreographer - Jane Wallace
Assistant Producer - Judy Parsons
Lighting and Special Effects - Barry Ayres
Vocal Coach - Claire Cooper
Stage Manager - Kate Carpenter
Stage Crew - Richard Bennett, David Brammer and Mark Girdwood
Set Construction - Terry Cook, Mark Girdwood, William Storey, Simon Carpenter, Chip Carpenter,
Kate Carpenter, Hugh Pearce, Gemma Laing and Carol Storey
Wardrobe - Judy Parsons and Harvey Costumes
Make-up - Jenny Lewis
Props - Barbara Curtis and Margaret Mould
Programme - Kate Ayres and Will Storey
Box Office - Kate and Chip Carpenter
Front of House Cyril Pike, Nerys Brooks and member of the Watlington WI
Easter Daily Press Review
The ambitious award-winning Watlington Players have done it again with this wonderful interpretation of the evergreen musical which has it all – memorable songs, energetic dance routines, romance, colourful costumes and comedy.
Amateur groups up and down the country struggle to find enough men to fill roles in musicals, but innovative director Penny Cooke has achieved the near-impossible by finding not only guys to play the seven brothers but a further six for the role of the jealous suitors, and by the way, they also can sing and dance.
Over the years Watlington Players have achieved some notable successes with their previous shows – including outstanding productions of Jekyll and Hyde, Guys and Dolls, Singin’ in the Rain – and now Seven Brides can be added to that impressive list. From the opening scenes on Wednesday’s opening night, the show moved at pace with memorable songs, including Bless Your Beautiful Hide, Wonderful, Wonderful Day, and Goin’ Courtin’ flowing thick and fast. The enthusiasm and exuberance of the cast is clear for all to see and the dance background of Penny Cooke is very evident in the way they move through the show and in the cleverly worked fight scene.
Matthew Austin is well cast in the lead role of brother Adam who nets his bride in the quickest-ever courtship. Well-known local actress Sarah Creasy plays the demanding lead female role Mily who becomes a bride and ends up getting six brothers-in-law. She not only looks the part but her voice, if a little quiet at times, is right for some of the musical numbers, particularly Love Never Goes Away and Wonderful, Wonderful Day.
Mention must also be made of the orchestra, under the baton of Mike Cooke, impressive set design, lighting and costumes, which all contributed to the overall effectiveness of a marvellous evening of good old-fashioned entertainment.
Richard Parr.
Amateur groups up and down the country struggle to find enough men to fill roles in musicals, but innovative director Penny Cooke has achieved the near-impossible by finding not only guys to play the seven brothers but a further six for the role of the jealous suitors, and by the way, they also can sing and dance.
Over the years Watlington Players have achieved some notable successes with their previous shows – including outstanding productions of Jekyll and Hyde, Guys and Dolls, Singin’ in the Rain – and now Seven Brides can be added to that impressive list. From the opening scenes on Wednesday’s opening night, the show moved at pace with memorable songs, including Bless Your Beautiful Hide, Wonderful, Wonderful Day, and Goin’ Courtin’ flowing thick and fast. The enthusiasm and exuberance of the cast is clear for all to see and the dance background of Penny Cooke is very evident in the way they move through the show and in the cleverly worked fight scene.
Matthew Austin is well cast in the lead role of brother Adam who nets his bride in the quickest-ever courtship. Well-known local actress Sarah Creasy plays the demanding lead female role Mily who becomes a bride and ends up getting six brothers-in-law. She not only looks the part but her voice, if a little quiet at times, is right for some of the musical numbers, particularly Love Never Goes Away and Wonderful, Wonderful Day.
Mention must also be made of the orchestra, under the baton of Mike Cooke, impressive set design, lighting and costumes, which all contributed to the overall effectiveness of a marvellous evening of good old-fashioned entertainment.
Richard Parr.