Somewhere over in Saundersfoot, there's a fun- filled production of all-time favourite musical, The Wizard of Oz, being staged.
With spectacular scenery, colourful costumes and foot-tapping songs, the 60-plus cast of Saundersfoot Footlights transport the audience to the land 'beyond the rainbow' to follow the adventures of Dorothy and her friends, the scarecrow, the Tinman and the lion, as they make their way along the Yellow Brick Road to see the Wizard of Oz.
Longstanding Footlights member, Cherie Morgan stars as Dorothy, and gives a delightful performance, particularly with her rendition of 'Somewhere over the Rainbow', which drew warm applause.
Other favourites are Dorothy's companions, Steve Butler, who brings to life the scarecrow, Will Oliver, as the creaking Tinman, and Roger Leese, as the cowardly lion, not forgetting the enthusiastic children's chorus as the brightly-costumed Munchkins and the dancing Jitterbugs.
Gordon Collins is the magical Wizard, Amie Roberts sparkles as the Sorceress of the North, while her opposite number, Iris Morris provokes gales of booing and hissing as the dastardly Wicked Witch. Supporting them are: Aunt Em - Cath Morgan; Lord Growlie - Brian Tilley; Visiting Witches - Debra Thompstone and Zoe Parry; Uncle Henry - Keith Williams; Joe - Brian Tilley; Gloria - Natasha Doyle; Tibia - Adrian Freeman; Private - David Morgan; Servant - Cath Morgan; Ozmas - Adrian Freeman; Oz Lady - Gill Butler; Mayor - Lucinda Perrett; Barrister - Scarlett Davies; Coroner - Jake Oliver; City Fathers - Sam Hunter-Baxter and Emily Carling; Farmer - Billy Stewart.
Adult chorus: Sue Freeman, Kayla Scourfield, Heather Scourfield, Andrea Thomas, Elliott Freeman, Jean Vincent, Ceri Phillips, Allison Franklin, Hulda Wright.
Children's chorus: Angharad Thomas, Georgina Freeman, Jennie Perrett, Holly-Sue Butler, Matthew Williams, Jazmine Wakefield, Bethan Griffiths, Elizabeth Morse, Jodie Jenkins, Beth Oliver, Sophie Bosley, Claire Liddell, Abbie Evans, Tom Griffiths, Jessica Jones, Emma-June Vaughan, Shannon Shields, Emma Finlay, Bethan Owen, Rachel Hensman, Jodie Cullen, Amy Deverson, Jodie Dickinson, Olwen Davies, Rhys Davies, Alexander Smith, Millie Dessent, Chloe Rees, Cerys Swales. Orchestra: Sam Davies, Suzanne Morris, Sam Turton, Natalie Gunner, Sam Palmer, Kevin Shanklin, Ashley Williams, Joel Rees, Cathy Raymond, Matthew Jones, Bethan Owens, Fay Brickell, Clive Raymond, Eileen Thomas.
Production team: director - Helen Wright; assistant director - Rob Wright, musical director - Clive Raymond; assistant musical director - Angie Oliver; production co-ordinator - Jo Williams; stage manager - Keith Williams; rehearsal pianist - Eileen Thomas; set design and construction - Keith Williams, Ceri Morris, Pat Williams and helpers; wardrobe mistress - Carolyn Elms, assisted by Pat Williams, Pauline Hunting, Sybil Whiston and Lynne Morris; sound/lighting - Rob Wright; props - David and Cath Morgan, Lynne Morris; make-up - Hulda Wright; choreography - Andrea Thomas, Hulda Wright and Matthew Jones; photographs/publicity - Sybil Whiston and Ceri Phillips; front-of-house - Pauline Hunting.
So, go off to see the Footlights, in the wonderful city of Oz.
The production at the Regency Hall is on tonight (Friday), with curtain-up at 7.30 pm, and tomorrow (Saturday) at 2.30 pm. Tickets are available from Evans Newsagents, Saundersfoot, and Reohorn Amusements, Pembroke Dock.
Footnote: The company's next production will be Copaccabana and auditions will be held in January.
CERIS HEWLINGS