1990s

1990

CAMELOT

Director: Pat Taplin Choreographer: Doreen Matthews Musical Director: Alan Humphrey

‘Another venue move and this time to the Wolsey Theatre, where we were made to feel welcome by all concerned. The set was built by our willing team in the Wolsey Theatre workshop and then transported to a barn for painting and finishing. Keeping the continuity of our Production Team, Carol Carver, a critic for the Evening Star wrote ‘This is the first time the Society has been able to perform in the Wolsey Theatre and they have shown themselves a credit to the professionals’. The show was virtually a sell-out.

SOUNDS FAMILIAR

Director: Mary Meredith Choreographer: Margaret Mudd Musical Director: Bernard Reader

Venue: The Spa Pavilion, Felixstowe

‘This year’s selections included ‘Chorus Line’, ‘Carousel’,’ Barnum’ and an Abba stand and sing. Now attracting coach loads, tickets rose to £4.00 and £3.50.’

1991

WEST SIDE STORY

Director: Pat Taplin Choreographer: Doreen Matthews Musical Director: Alan Humphrey

Venue: Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich

‘A second time for this wonderful show with probably one of the most difficult scores. Sets for the Wolsey Theatre built again by our talented crew. House Full notices were put out. The society was very grateful to be performing on the prestigious professional stage but the downsize limited numbers. Despite being a brilliant success, money was lost and the deficit hopefully would be made up by ‘Sounds Familiar’.’

SOUNDS FAMILIAR

Director: Mary Meredith Choreographer: Margaret Mudd Musical Director: Bernard Reader

Venue: The Spa Pavilion, Felixstowe

‘This year for the first time the programme included a Gilbert and Sullivan item and members of the cast took to Felixstowe beach in their ‘Pirates of Penzance’ costumes for publicity photos. Other favourites this year were ‘Miss Saigon’,’ Grease’, Elton John and a finale of Hollywood Movies.’

1992

BLITZ

Director: Pat Taplin Choreographer: Doreen Matthews Musical Director: Alan Humphrey

Venue: The Regent Theatre, St Helens Street, Ipswich

‘The Society returned to their old ‘home’ in the recently re-opened Regent Theatre. Now run by Ipswich Borough Council and revamped as a regional live entertainment venue. Our Society had fought hard along with the Co-op Juniors and many others to keep it from being closed.

‘Blitz’, a story of Eastenders during the Second World War was written by Lionel Bart and has a large cast including children. David Lowe, former Gaumont Manager, came out of retirement to become House Manager and was a welcome familiar face. Some of the cast took a trip to Colchester Garrison’s Cavalry Barracks to be drilled by a Sergeant Major who didn’t hold back when he bawled at the cast in his best parade ground manner. Highly amusing. A stunning wartime show with BIG scenery. The technical crew must have wondered if they had bitten off more than they could chew with a very very late technical rehearsal and dress rehearsal, but all came good in the end.’

SOUNDS FAMILIAR

Director: Mary Meredith Choreographer: Margaret Mudd Musical Director: Bernard Reader

Venue: The Spa Pavilion, Felixstowe

‘13 - Unlucky for some but despite a badly broken leg John White was wheeled on stage by a variety of in-house ‘nurses’ to compere the show in his usual relaxed way. An extra night was put in this year to accommodate our audiences. Selections this time round included ‘42nd Street’, ‘Children of Eden’, ‘Snoopy’, James Bond and a stand and sing of ‘Queen’ arranged by Bernard Reader and always a highlight of the show.’

1993

GUYS AND DOLLS

Director: Pat Taplin Choreographer: Doreen Matthews Musical Director: Alan Humphrey

Venue: The Spa Pavilion, Felixstowe

‘Last performed in 1968 at the Gaumont, this year the Society decided to take the show to the Spa Pavilion, Felixstowe, our usual home for Sounds Familiar. Still a very uneasy time in terms of venue for the Committee to decide with size, rising costs and the need to prolong the life of the Society. The strong production team of Pat Taplin, Doreen Matthews and Alan Humphrey continue to produce the most polished shows at whatever venue.’

SOUNDS FAMILIAR

Director: Margaret Mudd Choreographer: Margaret Mudd, Stephanie Malton and Mary Meredith

Musical Director: Bernard Reader

Venue: The Spa Pavilion, Felixstowe

‘The show included ‘HMS Pinafore’, ‘South Pacific’, ‘Sondheim’ selection and the music of Neil Diamond for the stand and sing. Carol Carver wrote “The voices over the years have got stronger, fuller, rounder, and the sounds this Society make are now better than ever. A collection of £793 made went to Save the Children Fund. Sold out this year.’

1994

LI'L ABNER

Director: Pat Taplin Choreographer: Doreen Matthews Musical Director: Alan Humphrey

Venue: Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich

‘Back to the Wolsey Theatre for this happy musical, bubbling with fun and a lot of good songs. Not a well known musical it was written by the team who gave us ‘Seven Brides for Seven Brothers’ and is based on the Al Capp Strip cartoon and the lovely folks of Dogpatch, USA. With an imaginative set built by Richard Rumbellow, joining the cast were some gorgeous, muscular, bronzed and fit body-building fellers! With numerous companies now producing shows it was becoming very difficult to make a choice but this show was a very happy and successful one performed in heat wave weather. Those dressing rooms certainly were hot!’

SOUNDS FAMILIAR

Director: Margaret Mudd Choreographer: Margaret Mudd, Stephanie Malton and Mary Meredith

Musical Director: Bernard Reader

Venue: The Spa Pavilion, Felixstowe

‘Each year it gets bigger and more ambitious and more names now added to the Production Team to spread the load. Always popular the whacky policemen entertained with Pirates of Penzance alongside memorable selections from ‘Carmen’ and ‘Sunset Boulevard’.’

1995

CELEBRATION CONCERT - 40TH ANNIVERSARY

Director: Margaret Mudd Choreographer: Margaret Mudd, Stephanie Malton and Mary Meredith

Musical Director: Bernard Reader

Venue: Ipswich Corn Exchange

‘“A truly fabulous fortieth celebration” was Carol Carver’s headline in the Evening Star. Taking place in the Grand Hall, Corn Exchange and presented in association with BBC Radio Suffolk, it was compered by David Webb. David was associated with the Society in the 60’s appearing on stage before he went professional with his twin brother, so it was very fitting for us to have him head up our special evening. Joining us were Margaret Morphew and Dennis Pennock, still singing solos and they were presented with a gift of silver to mark their long association with the Society. A packed Corn Exchange audience enjoyed a feast of music. BBC Radio Suffolk recorded the evening and the concert subsequently went out over one or two Sundays during the Easter period. Here’s to the next 40 years!’

A CHORUS LINE

Director: Pat Taplin Choreographer: Doreen Matthews, Kerry Walker and David Hockley

Musical Director: Alan Humphrey

Venue: Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich

‘The celebrations continue with the East Anglian Premiere of this show, and joining our long serving production team were Kerry Walker and David Hockley as assistant choreographers. This show is one of the most difficult the Society has tackled with a tight cast required to be multitalented in singing, acting and dancing, but with the talent around it was not hard to cast. It was a stunning show well suited to the Wolsey Theatre and a triumphant success in our 40th year.’

SOUNDS FAMILIAR

Director: Margaret Mudd Choreographer: Margaret Mudd, Stephanie Malton and Mary Meredith

Musical Director: Bernard Reader

Venue: The Spa Pavilion, Felixstowe, Park Pavilion, Dovercourt and the Riverside Theatre, Woodbridge

‘The 16th edition of this revue in our 40th year and following the show at the Spa the company visited the Park Pavilion, Dovercourt and the Riverside Theatre, Woodbridge. On offer this year Fred and Ginger, The Desert Song, Copacabana and the music of Stevie Wonder.’

1996

HALF A SIXPENCE

Director: Pat Taplin Choreographer: Doreen Matthews

Musical Director: Alan Humphrey

Venue: Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich

‘Chosen for the third time by the Society this production at the Wolsey Theatre proved to be a great success and was almost totally sold out. The show worked well at the Wolsey not only for the new look our production team brought to the show but also for the talent we are fortunate to have in the Society.’

SOUNDS FAMILIAR

Director: Margaret Mudd

Venue: The Spa Pavilion, Felixstowe

Directed by Margaret Mudd and assisted by six others this year. Carol Carver wrote ‘For colour and wit there is The Mikado, for beat a Motown selection, for rousing sparkle Strike Up The Band, for hilarity the Jailhouse Policemen and for brilliance and originality T.S. Eliot’s’ Cats’. Now that’s entertainment!’

1997

SINGING IN THE RAIN

Director: Pat Taplin

Choreographer: Doreen Matthews

Musical Director: Alan Humphrey

Venue: Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich

‘Only recently having been released for amateurs we were very proud to be performing one of the greatest of all musicals at the Wolsey Theatre. It tells the story of a major film studio Monumental Pictures’ struggle to turn its latest film ‘The Duelling Cavalier’ into an all-talking and singing musical. With filming on location in Christchurch Mansion and Ipswich Town Hall this show emphasizes the number of unsung heroes working backstage. The crew had their work cut out getting the rain effect onstage and working. News appeared in the programme about the Junior Group recently set up for two groups, one for 7-11 year olds and the second for 12-16 year olds. A new venture to encourage youngsters, with the aim of taking part in the main productions in the future.’

ENCORE

Musical Director: Bernard Reader

Venue: The Spa Pavilion, Felixstowe

‘A deviation from Sounds Familiar this year, this was a more static form of production. Having performed a major show in midsummer, the rehearsal time was cut short for October. This show concentrated very much on ensemble singing. It was the perfect opportunity to showcase our vocal talent and had been requested by many following our successful Celebration Concert in 1995. With just a few changes of costume we had Bernard Reader’s arrangements of The Beach Boys, Bohemian Rhapsody, Neil Diamond and A Selection for Square Eyes arranged by Andrew Burke. We ended with ‘Martin Guerre’ and the lovely number ‘Bethlehem’.’

1998

CRAZY FOR YOU

Director: Pat Taplin

Choreographer: Doreen Matthews

Musical Director: Alan Humphrey

Venue: The Regent Theatre, St Helens Street, Ipswich

‘How proud we were to be given the East Anglian Amateur Premiere of this show and to be back home at the Regent Theatre for this large scale magical Gershwin piece. We had a pit choir of 7 to help with the vocals alongside a 14 piece orchestra certainly at their peak. Alan Humphrey decided to repeat the Overture at the end of the show and most of the audience just stayed in their seats to listen to it. David Henshall wrote in the East Anglian Daily Times “What a cracker, Ipswich Operatic have surpassed themselves and there can be few amateur companies who could better this absolute fizzer of a show”. The show won Best Show in the Region awarded by NODA, whose region extends from the Thames to the Humber. Sadly, after 11 years of directing, Pat Taplin decided it was time to hand over the reins. She bowed out on a memorable triumph.’

SOUNDS FAMILIAR

Musical Director: David Bolton

Venue: The Spa Pavilion, Felixstowe

A return to Sounds Familiar again this year and welcoming David Bolton as MD. Such a successful formula this year proved once again nothing is taken for granted. The programme included Blues Brothers, Al Jolson, Porgy and Bess and a stand and sing of Mamas & Papas. A cheque for £804, raised from our raffle, was presented to the Children’s Ward, Ipswich Hospital.’

1999

42nd STREET

Director: Steve Wooldridge

Choreographer: Doreen Matthews Musical Director: Alan Humphrey

Venue: The Regent Theatre, St Helens Street, Ipswich

‘Continuing at the Regent Theatre and hoping ‘We’re in the Money’ with this tap dancing gem of a show. We welcomed Steve Wooldridge as Director, joining Doreen Matthews, choreographer and Alan Humphrey, MD. The show also welcomed several new faces from ‘First Stage’, our new Youth Group, and it was pleasing to see them ‘graduate’ to the main company. Tickets now cost £7.50 to £9.00. Bill Thorne was on hand in his front of house role, dressed as a commissionaire, meeting and greeting the audiences. This show was another financial success.’