Sixty years of triumph and disaster, of hopes realised and battles lost and won is being celebrated by Walmsley Church Operatic Society this week.
The Diamond Jubilee Celebrations began on Saturday evening with a full house and a relaxed atmosphere. Walmsley is good and it knows it.
The play chosen to honour this bright occasion is "The Wedding" by Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall. It's all about a wedding - or rather, the preparations for one - and gives splendid opportunities for characterisation. It's all fun and the cast take full advantage of everything provided.
Audrey Raistrick as the worried mum, Bill Steel as the inevitable Uncle Arthur and Diane Tustin as the bridegroom's mother are all outstanding.
The second play is "Follow The Star" a musical play by Wally K Daly and Jim Parker. It is a highly ribald account of The Nativity. This is the view from up there, rather than down here, as we usually regard it. It is one roar of irreverent laughter from start to finish. It is presented by the Junior Theatre Workshop and if this is an example of its work there is a bright future ahead for the Society.
