The Brentwood Gazette and Mid-Essex Recorder from Brentwood, Essex, England • 109

GOl week ending March 5 1999 T3 -Arts Mark is star of this show Play in time travel ALAN strange mixture of drama and comedy COMMUNICATING DOORS is Witham Dramatic choice for its next production which runs at the Public Hall from March 1 7 to 20 at 745pm nightly Set in three different time bands and with a friendly dominatrix named Poopay as its central character it is a fascinating play WDC has won many awards for its work and this should be a very good production Bookings at the Public Hall from March 6 and on 01376 512912 10am-2pm weekdays and 9am-3pm Saturdays played with authority by Jonathan Burn relates in flashback the life story to two incredulous chirpy Cockney stagehands backstage at the London Palladium Martin Head gives a strong performance as Alf with Neil Smye as Vlff The other problem was Carole staging of the show Admittedly there were tremendous technical hitches but the irritating device of billowing white curtains coming in from either side of the stage at every scene change soon palled Backing tapes created the sound of a full orchestra with Julian Reeve in charge of musical direction but the convince Go and see it anyway for entertaining charm and singing He IS the show and an impressive acting debut MARY REDMAN Lanza The Last Serenade is at the Civic Theatre until Saturday bookings 01245 606505 Then Cliffs Pavilion and tour Newpalm Productions Lanza The Last Serenade Civic Theatre Chelmsford On the first night of this new musical about Hollywood tenor Mario Lanza singer Mark Rattray deservedly got a standing ovation for his first acting role He caught physical bearing and style extremely well singing even better than the original delighting the audience with popular arias and romantic songs like Be My Love Rattray is the undoubted star of what the Americans call a turkey of a show The idea is good worth realising but it could be so much better It is an extended concert with hackneyed cliched dialogue from a thousand 1 940s Hollywood biopics between the numbers accompanist Costa Go! Arts is compiled by Mary Redman and edited by Sue Roberts The stars turned out to support the world premiere of the show LANZA THE LAST SERENADE at the Civic Theatre in Chelmsford last Thursday night Pictured: left to right: Susan Maughan writer Dave Dennison and Jess Conrad The Glorious South of France Mozart concert ST Peter's church Coggeshall is the venue for Witham Choral Mozart concert this Saturday at 730pm with the Colchester Bach Orchestra Tickets at the door or on 01376584178 The National Youth Dance Company visit Chdmaforcfc Chancellor Hall on March 11 and 12 with this show SPECTRUM as 16 yowtg dancers strut their stuff elded by some of the most talented choreographers of today Among the wide-ranging pieces on display wM be one by David Bintley Birmingham Royal Beliefs artistic director Manwatching Is a humorous look at animals watching us as if we were zoo nnnrlmans Curtain up is at 8pm and bookings are on 01245 606505 Departs I Ith Jun 99 10 DAYS St Tropez Monaco and Nice Why not spend a fantastic holiday around these legendary resorts! Based in Frejus at a 4-star mobile home holiday park this is a great inexpensive family holiday Operated by Harry Shaw ABTA VI 801 Sculpture on show at library South Woodham Ferrers portrait sculptor PAM work varies from a tiny figure only inches high to lifesize work intended for public display An exhibition of her work will run at Chelmsford Central Library until March 27 A 1 998 individual winner of the Chelmsford Civic Award for Service to the Arts her public commissions include a sculpture of two children for the entrance to a school near Beaulieu which will be included in the Chelmsford show Currently Taylor is working on a 6ft clay model for a bronze Navigator which will be unveiled on Cleethorpes sea front in September to commemorate North Coates Strike Command Also on show will be statues of dancers and some examples of major works MARY REDMAN Pam Taylor is pictured right with some examples of her work Return coach travel 7 nights self catering accommodation in a mobile home Services of the driver and resident Harry Shaw representative Excursions as detailed in the brochure iO'4 0345 165146 CALL NOW FOR A BROCHURE ft Mon to Sat Sam to 8pm Answerphone at all other times All calls charged at local rate.