Anything Goes

There was a small but appreciative audience at the first night of Sutton Amateurs' production of Anything Goes.

This light-hearted musical with well-known tunes by Cole Porter takes place on board the ocean liner SS American, sailing from New York with debutantes, tycoons, dancing girls and gangsters.

After all the mix-ups, the disasters were averted and the romances were all sorted out.

Alison Waters as Reno Sweeney kept the show rolling on and she was well supported by the other members of the cast. Philip Smith as Moonface Martin supplied the comic entertainment.

This was another enjoyable show by the Amateurs and was well produced by Doreen Smith. The musical director was David Boddy.

Margaret Almond

Sing-a-Long-Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat

There I was on Saturday afternoon in St George's Hall, Bradford, armed with my goodie bag containing a party popper, glow stick, ribbon and Elvis style quiff hat.

The sing-a-long-a-Joseph experience involves a big screen film version of the show starring Donny Osmond with on-screen lyrics so everyone can join in.

The show started with the Funky Pharaoh as the host led us though a vocal warm up which included and some of the actions needed to undertake during the songs.

Thrown into the mix were a fancy dress and dancing competition for some of the braver audience members.

It was fun to be part of this show but part of me felt there was something missing, and the organisation of the competitions seemed somewhat lacklustre.

To get the most out of this you need children at an age to appreciate a musical but still young enough to enjoy the fancy dress side of the experience.

This said, I was singing along with the best of them and came out with a smile on my face.

Dean Harness

Bad Blood

Bad Blood at The Alhambra is a quick-fire farce featuring twisting plots, twisted characters, rapid action, witty dialogue, ferocious greed and sexual jealousy.

Richard Stockwell's unlikely story unfolds the audience is almost intrigued beyond its better nature.

Forget suspending your disbelief, this wry play challenges the limits of believabilty as it dissolves into exaggerated soap-like plot twists.

Each event is superseded by a more outrageous turn as the story of a rich couple Vic and Tom, a long-lost daughter Belinda, Jack - a greedy solicitor and a 'hitman' called Smokey is played out.

It is farcical and you are hooked almost in spite of yourself.

The play is humorous and the cast attacks it with relish.

Gillian Taylforth as Vic is superb and Gary Mavers as Tom is a good match for her throughout the blistering ripostes between the two as their marriage crumbles.

Danny Nutt - who bears an uncanny resemblance to Prince Harry - spends the play as Smokey, seething with rage and could perhaps have shown more range in his portrayal.

Bad Blood's run comes to an end with performances tonight and tomorrow. Ring 01274 432000 for ticket details.

Kate Pallister