Whistle Down The Wind
2012
Our 2012 show: ‘Whistle Down the Wind’
Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jim Steinman; Venue: Cripps Hall Theatre
NODA Awards: Northamptonshire Amateur Premier
Cast
The Man – Ian Stark
Swallow – Samantha Pollitt
Candy – Lillian Thorn
Amos – Tom Pinny
Sheriff – Tristan Wentworth Smith
Deputy – Jame Bignell
Minister – Robert Laurie
Boone – Mark Woodham
Earl – Pete Thorn
Edward – Mark Robbins
Snake Preacher – David Mills
Poor Baby – Robin Skeppstas/ Harrison Wilson
Brat – Emily Halton/ Megan Timlin
Ensemble
Stefan C. Attrill, Geri Anderson, Sally Whitestone, Liz Allan, Dawn Hall, Mikaela Fawkes, Nanette Lovell, Amanda Howson, Lawrence Hodge, Chris Willis. Andy Kempinsky, Corrina Quarterman, Clarissa Blake, Barry Cox, Katrina Gedny, Jo Gent, Will Gent. George Alger, Shannon Batt. Jennie Mitchell, Chloe Hoyte. Beth Mabbutt. Morcea Walker, Becky Woodham
Many thanks to NMTC for your kindness and hospitality last week. Peter and I really enjoyed the production. It was a great production all round and the kids were lovely. Not many productions can boast a real Harley-Davidson. The story was very well told and with very believable characters. Bravo to all concerned!
Thanks again. The production has whetted my appetite for more amateur theatre.
All best wishes to you.
In a score requiring strong soloists from children and adults alike as well as a highly disciplined ensemble, NMTC was musically easily up to the job. Gibbs’ casting of Ian Stark as The Man was inspired and spot-on. It was a real treat to watch this talented tenor perform handling Lloyd Webber’s mix of pop and rock so naturally. Opposite Stark was a conveniently young-looking Samantha Pollitt, as Swallow, in her first lead role in the society. Looking ten years her junior, Pollitt brought plenty of naivety to the role which was reflected in her chemistry with Swallow’s younger brother and sister as well as the rest of the children’s ensemble.
With two groups of seventeen children performing throughout the run, NMTC’s child-licensing team obviously had their work cut out, but it was worth it, with the children’s scenes arguably the most entertaining of the evening. ‘The Hurricanes’ group I saw were all well-rehearsed and focused – in my experience children often learn everyone else’s lines on top of their own, without even trying! Megan Timlin (Brat) and Harrison Willson (Poor Baby) deserve plenty of praise for their respective roles as Swallow’s younger siblings. And of course, the children’s ensemble also got to sing two of the show’s most popular numbers, When Children Rule the World and No Matter What, which went on to become one of Boyzone’s most memorable hits.