It's lights, camera, action as silent movie era musical Mack And Mabel gets a lively revival at the Swan Theatre in Worcester this week.
The maverick pioneers of the film industry are the inspiration for Jerry Herman's romantic comedy, which tells the on-off love story of Mack Sennett and Mabel A. Normand, the sandwich seller he turns into a screen starlet.
It opens in 1911 as Sennett takes his Keystone production team to California then skims two decades while he hits the heights with his bathing beauties and comic Kops and Mabel dreams of artistic integrity.
Worcester Operatic and Dramatic Society has top quality leads in Andy Gilhooly, who makes the dictatorial director likeable, and Laura Synnuck, whose fantastic voice gets the most from big numbers like Wherever He Ain't. There are classy performances too from Aaron Bennett and Abbi Jakeman.
Herman's pedigree includes Mame, Hello, Dolly! and La Cage Aux Folles and this also has fine songs, notably When Mabel Comes In The Room. None of them, though, have really lived on for the forty years since its premiere in 1974, with the possible exception of the haunting I Won't Send Roses (Torvill and Dean used it in Sarajevo in 1984). It's not often performed now so this is a chance to see a forgotten gem.
The music is played as expertly as always with this company and the supporting cast is excellent, especially in the slapstick scenes. A vibrant routine to Tap Your Troubles Away is a highlight and fans of the traditional musical should enjoy an entertaining show, performed with real style.
It runs until Saturday.
Paul Francis
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