Saundersfoot Footlights is currently staging yet another successful show with their production of 'Pirates of Penzance' wowing audiences. Opening on Monday evening to an excellent audience, the show has a mix of familiar and new faces and the brilliant sets and costumes that we have come to expect. Although the show is very different from the well-known musicals Footlights usually perform, it is certainly a show that they can be proud of. The wonderful voice of newcomer Richard Perret as Frederic blends perfectly with the equally wonderful voice of Miranda Rhys-Davies, another newcomer to Footlights as Mabel. Add to that the menacing Pirate King played by the excellent Gareth Morris, an impressive Graham Thomas as the Major General, the facial expressions and comic timing of the ever-popular Steve Butler as the Police Sergeant, and with Andrea Thomas's great portrayal of Ruth, the show really comes to life with the familiar faces of Brian Tilley (Samuel), Gill Butler (Edith), Beth Scott (Kate) and Hulda Wright (Isabel). Not forgetting the all- important chorus, 'Pirates of Penzance' is certainly a great evening's entertainment. Of course, Gilbert and Sullivan relies very heavily on the music and the musical director, Clive Raymond, has pulled out all the stops, both with training the principals and chorus and leading the band which consists of Cathy Raymond (clarinet) Jason Osborne (trumpet), Joel Rees (drum kit) Ashley Williams (percussion) and Dai Codd (bass guitar). His many hours of hard work have certainly paid off as both solos and chorus numbers were performed with a great deal of professionalism. The spectacular sets have been designed and painted by Keith Williams, Jo Williams, Cliff Skidmore, Ceri Morris, Mick Booth and Andrew Thomas, with costumes by Carolyn Elms, Pat Williams, Pauline Hunting, Sybil Whiston, Louise Cozier and Lynn Morris, which all help make this one of the most colourful Footlights productions to date. The stage manager is Ceri Morris who is assisted by the stage crew of Keith Williams, Cliff Skidmore and Andrew Thomas. Other members of the cast are: Pirate chorus (act one) - Marc Styles, David Morgan, Keith Williams, Ceri Phillips, Maurice Griffiths, Adrian Freeman. Servants (act one) - Sheila Meades, Eunice Parkes, Gail Hensbrook, Ann Devonald. Police chorus - Maurice Griffiths, Adrian Freeman, Sue Freeman, Hulda Wright, Sallie Griffiths, Sheila Meades, Eunice Parkes, Gail Hensbrook. Daughters - Heather Scourfield, Cherie Morgan, Jenny Guard, Andrea Elston, Megan Hickling. Production team: director - Helen Wright; musical director and orchestration - Clive Raymond; production co-ordinator - Jo Williams; rehearsal pianist - Eileen Thomas; choreography - Hulda Wright, Rachel Cozier; costumes - Carolyn Elms, Pat Williams, Pauline Hunting, Sybil Whiston, Louise Cozier, Lynn Morris; props - David Morgan; set design and construction - Keith Williams, Jo Williams, Cliff Skidmore, Ceri Morris, Mick Booth, Andrew Thomas; sound and lighting - Jorge Wright and Andrew Thomas; photographs - Joyce Owen; publicity - Cliff Skidmore; front-of-house - Pauline Hunting, Sybil Whiston and members; refreshments - Joyce Owen and members; posters and programmes - Stephanie Stevens; make-up - Lynn Morris. 'Pirates of Penzance' has two more performances, tonight (Friday) with curtain at 7.30 pm, and a matinee tomorrow (Saturday) with curtain at 2.30 pm. Tickets are available from Evans Newsagents, Saundersfoot, and Reohorn Amusements, Pembroke Dock, or on the door. Footnote: Auditions for the company's Christmas production of 'Wizard of Oz' will be held at the Further Education Centre, The Ridgeway, Saundersfoot, on Wednesday, September 14, at 7 pm, and Sunday, September 18, at 2 pm.

Major General (Graham Thomas) and some of his daughters.
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