This comedy by Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft was produced and directed by Steve Andrews, assisted by Eileen White
The programme notes the deaths of three long-serving members. Don Jackson designed and built sets at Birley Carr for 42 years between 1967 and 2009, as well as being a member of the chorus. Adrian Ollerearnshaw had performed in every operetta between 1947 and 2013 and many plays – perhaps 100 productions in all. He also invented and built many ingenious props, including the ship’s wheel which is still in use (and is regularly borrowed for pantomimes!). Lastly, Elizabeth Birkby Snr who was a driving force in Grenoside for over 30 years from the earliest days, and was a talented actress and producer
Producer Steve also persuaded Kathy Allan and Steve Atkinson from Panto to join, both of whom are still involved, plus Phil Wright and Steve Ledwood. Louise Walsingham joined as Prompt, having met Mr Andrews in the Cow and Calf. Louise and Steve Atkinson therefore met, and were married 5 years later. Steve and Kathy added music and voice effects (like the radio voice in the parrot, and “Naughty Norma” in the cinema scene)
15 scene changes were needed, all done in darkness with tiny torches while Steve A played Parisian accordion music. Once ready, Kathy would flash her torch 3 times, because Steve couldn’t see anything. He immediately faded the music, so that Andy Granger at the back (who also couldn’t see anything) knew to bring up the lights. The actors (who also couldn’t see anything) saw the lights and bounded onto the stage like leopards. Seamless!
We have a DVD, from Steve A’s original. He also used the camera to feed a picture to TVs in the dressing rooms downstairs to help the actors with their entrances
655 tickets were sold, which seems to be the biggest ever. So many tickets, in fact, that an extra day had to be added on
