Powick play a success

9:12am Friday 16th May 2008

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City Kids, Powick Village Hall Those residents of Powick who were fortunate enough to have obtained tickets (which resembled war-time ration books) witnessed an unusual and highly accomplished performance on May 9 and 10 at the Parish Hall, when City Kids, a musical play by Tom Wells, was preceded by an entertainment arranged by Stephen and Pamela Watkins.

The audience (representing the inhabitants of a Devon village) were arriving for a Harvest Supper and entertainment, in September 1939. They heard a traditional monologue, a poetry reading and the choir being rehearsed by the village organist. Their rehearsal culminated in a spirited rendering of It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing, followed by a fine a capella performance of Home Sweet Home, interrupted right at the end by Neville Chamberlain's broadcast announcing "We are at war".

The action then moved seamlessly into City Kids, a tale of children evacuated from London to Devon in 1940 to escape the Blitz. The original music, all written by Tom Wells in a variety of styles spanning from the 1930' to the present day, reflected the changing moods of the play. Both the adult and children soloists and small groups sang extremely competently, were well supported by the chorus, and accompanied very sympathetically by a small string and wind group with Tom himself on keyboard.

Contemporary images, including some of the Blitz, projected on to the wall behind the stage, and sound effects including a very dramatic air raid, set the 1940's atmosphere. All the players were attired appropriately for the period, and the smaller room at the hall had been ingeniously adapted as an air-raid shelter (and doubled as a source of refreshments.) With a cast of 25, a chorus of 12, plus 9 musicians, 11 support staff, and the production team of 13, the latter being very ably led by Joy Hadley and Julia Sandy, it was a real community effort. All those who participated in this energetic and slick production must be heartily congratulated, especially the many young people. It will be remembered for a long while by the audience. It was an emotional experience, particularly for those with personal memories of evacuation during those difficult times.

D L Allen