One of Batman's ancestors is displaying all the family vitality this week in the current production of the Walmsley Church Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society. Junior will do well if he survives as long as the old man. Strauss's "Die Fledermaus", here thinly disguised as "Pink Champagne", seems to have hit the secret of eternal youth. Waltz time Viennese gaiety might be a cliche but it is one which bubbles up as fresh as ever in spite of age and overwork.
Saturday night's audience could not resist the temptation to sing along with Strauss's lilting music. In Derek Tayor's production the show once again survives the inevitable limitations of amateur performance.
Chorus work suffered from a shortage of male singers but the girls were competent and very pretty. Sylvia Fishwick's experience helped to pull the efforts of the others together. The ballroom scene, which bore the signs of planning and discipline, made an impact that was unfortunately not seen elsewhere.
All the principals tackled the demanding music with spirit. Alec Greaves gave an unselfish, smooth performance as Gabriel Eisenstein, a traditional handsome hero, resplendent in tails and red carnation. As his wife Rosalinda, Majorie Y. Hough combined some sweet singing with a lively acting performance. Jean Unsworth too is a confident singer who radiates charm. Their ironic trio, "Poor Lonely Wife", performed with wit and awareness, was one of the high spots of the show. Playing Alfred, the slightly foolish opera singer who admires Rosalinda, William A. Livesey seemed not to know how seriously he should take his part. When he let himself appear absurd, a potential not realised in his total performance was suggested.
Choreographer Margaret Ogden had trained her dancers well and their black and white bat ballet was imaginatively conceived. Another dance sequence was spoiled for me by a rather disconcerting use of lighting which made the girls look like bodies.
The orchestra, under Mr J. Arnold Thornton, seemed to enjoy tackling the music. Sometimes their playing was a little too loud for singers of limited technique and balance was lost.
"Pink Champagne" is a show of enduring appeal and the cast at Walmsley handled it with assurance. Saturday night's audience had no doubt that the society has its third success of the season.
