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Billy - 1st to 4th June 2005

"Happy To Be Ourselves"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Billy" is the musical adaptation of Keith Waterhouse's novel, film and play
Billy Liar
.
 

 Set in Yorkshire in 1960, the show follows the antics of the lead character Billy Fisher, an undertaker's clerk who is forever dreaming of another life in the fantasy country of Ambrosia, where he is the leader of his own private (female) army.  Billy's long-suffering parents and Gran are the subject of a great deal of his lies, as are his three girlfriends - the dull Barbara, the common and brassy Rita and the more refined Liz.

The Company

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Director  Greg Fitch
Choreographers  Jean & Jayne Cator
Musical Director  Matt Clark

 

Billy Fisher  -  Chris Carroll Geoffrey Fisher  -  Tony Wilds Alice Fisher  -  Val Lofthouse
Gran Fisher  -  Audrey Fiddes Arthur Crabtree  -  Paul Woodhouse Shadrack  -  Nick King
Stamp  -  Lee Chapman Councillor Duxbury  -  John Fiddes Liz  -  Sarah Browne
Barbara  -  Emily Clark Rita  -  Sara Crowley Mrs Crabtree  -  Vicki Gale
Marilyn Monroe  -  Jayne Cator

 

Ladies and Gents of the Ensemble
Sue Bailey Ian Chisholm Huw Jones Hannah Rolfe
Jenny Bugg Ian Doughty Clair Jordan Rebecca Rowe
Hayley Carter Emma Gale Andy Lofthouse Nick Sparkes
Jayne Cator Vicki Gale Joanne Madden Lucy Stangroom
Lee Chapman Liz Ireland Peter Pepper Paul Woodhouse

 

Orchestra
Keyboard  -  Peter Chamberlin Trumpet  -  Cathy Nicholas
Bass Guitar  -  Nick Moody Trombone  -  Peter Edwards
Clarinet  -  Sarah Wright Percussion  -  Jens Raaby
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone & Flute  -  Barbara Martin

 

'little gem of a musical'

(John Lawson, Eastern Daily Press, 2 June 2005)


This sadly underperformed little gem of a musical from the classic Keith Waterhouse book Billy Liar - about a northern lad who spends his life in a fantasy world - proves an ideal vehicle for the enthusiastic and tightly-knit Threshold Theatre Group - and in particular for the very special talent of teenage Chris Carroll in the title role.
(Chris) Carroll is on stage almost throughout and must maintain the highest standards of acting, singing, comedy and pathos in equal measures and this he achieves with an easy confidence.  No surprise, then, that he has just earned a place at the prestigious London School of Musical Theatre.  The West End beckons...
But this show, with a book by top scriptwriters Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais and some terrific songs by John Barry and Don Black, is no one-trick pony.  Tony Wilds, Val Lofthouse and Audrey Fiddes offered quality support as Billy's family, while Sarah Browne, Emily Clark and Sara Crowley brought three very different characters to his rival girlfriends - and shared one of the real musical highlights in their second-act trio.  And listen out for the nostalgic It Were All Green Hills and Billy's wistful Some Of Us Belong To The Stars.