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Life at The Little Theatre column: Some old favourites brought back to life

Read the latest updates from Southport's Little Theatre.

Zainab Noor

InYourArea Community, Zainab Noor

— 3 min read
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Life at The Little Theatre column: Some old favourites brought back to life

Carousel (picture: Alan Martin Photography)

By Jennifer Corcoran and Andrew Sloman

The month of June is upon us and the sun is shining down. June evokes quotes of positivity at the best of times, but is ever more special this year as we find the longer days mean we can meet more easily with cherished friends and family in line with ongoing restrictions.

In musical theatre June is said to be ‘busting out all over’ in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s second collaboration, Carousel. The joyful chorus number features as the townfolk of Maine prepare for a clambake.  

The musical first played in 1945 and was adapted from a 1909 Hungarian play called Liliom by Ferenc Molnár. It tells the tale of carousel barker Billy Bigelow who falls in love with mill worker Julie Jordan; their romance costs them their jobs and he takes a risk to make money for his family which shatters their world, but he strives to make it right.

Our archive tells us that the show has been performed four times at the Little Theatre: by BOS in September 1967; BOS again in October 1973; Ormskirk Operatic Society revived it in May 1993 and BOS revisited it in June 2013. This shows that the timelessness of the tale prevails.

Another delightful ditty features in the musical Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Based on the short story of The Sobbin’ Women, the film debuted in 1954 starring Jane Powell and Howard Keel.  

Keel plays Adam, the head of a family of seven brothers. When he meets Milly and persuades her to wed him he brings her home to their run down mountain cabin. Milly teaches the men how to woo women so they can have brides of their own and they make for the town to put their skills to the test.

When Adam advises them to do what is necessary to secure their unions, they take this too literally and kidnap their intended brides who are then stuck at the cabin following an avalanche. As they have not kidnapped a pastor too, they cannot get married, but the women dream of this in the number ‘June Bride’

All is well that ends well as the men see the error of their ways and return the women to town, whereupon they all falsely claim the cries of the newborn daughter of Adam and Milly is their child to ensure they have to be wed!

BOS performed this show at the Little Theatre in November 1999 and Maghull MTC followed suit in November 2010. Sometimes, you can’t beat a classic and it will be lovely to see some old favourites brought back to life in future years.

Here at the Southport Dramatic Club we continue to proceed with positivity.  A small, but incredibly talented team have been working hard on another centenary piece. The history of the club, much like that of the world, is rich and to be celebrated!

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (picture: MMTC)

We know we are very lucky to still be in a position to make plans and hope you are looking forward to joining us as much as we are looking forward to welcoming you back.

Keep checking our website and following our social media for confirmation of booking tickets for Fame the Musical running August 24-28.

To keep up to date with news and plans for the Little Theatre in Southport, Merseyside and find out the latest information on when we may be able to open click here or follow on Facebook and Instagram.

You can also see some special lockdown performances and a virtual theatre tour on our new YouTube Channel – search for Southport Little Theatre.

Southport Little Theatre is at Hoghton Street, Southport, Merseyside

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