YOUNG actors took part in musical Thoroughly Modern Millie at the Abbey Theatre, St Albans.
Sixty of them aged eight to 18 from RARE youth theatre group performed the show four times from last Thursday to Saturday.
Dannie Aston was stunning as strong-minded Millie Dillmount with excellent vocals, skilful acting and tap dancing. Her portrayal of the young Kansas actor who moves to New York City in 1922 to find a new life, friendships, work and a rich husband, was exceptional, with her solo, Jimmy, standing out.
Seb Kainth as Jimmy was fantastic in his role as the sweet yet apparently poor paper-clip salesman, with whom Millie ends up falling in love and marrying - he turns out to be a millionaire in his own right.
His voice shone in What Do I Need With Love? and the moving, I Turned A Corner - a duet with Millie which showed electric onstage chemistry between the pair.
Brendan Ryan was superb as Mr Graydon, particularly in The Speed Test - a wordy, pacey number - and the ballad I'm Falling In Love With Someone.
Other main parts were played by Eleanor Rosser-Smyth, whose character Miss Dorothy was Millie's roommate. How The Other Half Lives showed off Eleanor's quality singing. Laura Mead was striking as Muzzy, especially in the solo, Only In New York, and her acting was among the best in the show.
Special mention must be made of Ryan Rickard (Bun Foo) and Jensen Tudtud (Ching Ho), who spoke fluent Chinese throughout and provided comedy and huge talent, notably in Not The Life For Me and Muqin which they sang with dubious hotel proprietor Mrs Meers (Hanna Cook).
Hanna's songs were well sung and her ironic catchphrase, "Sad to be all alone in the world", were delivered with aplomb but her speech could have benefited from slowing down as some of her lines sounded thrown away and lacked clarity.
The play, originally starring Julie Andrews, has little in the way of chorus lines but the actors performed their minimal singing and dancing work to effect.
The set was minimalist but the terrific costumes made up for it and, overall, the show was entertaining with clever dialogue, some charming comic moments and cheeky dancing.
Directed by Andrew Burton, with choreography by Alison Kaby and with Dave Marriott as musical director, the cast rehearsed twice a week for six weeks.
Andrew said: "They rose to the occasion and performed admirably in what is a very challenging piece to pull off and which seemed to be enjoyed by the audience."
Auditions for RARE'S next show, High School Musical, are on Sunday week, November 18, at Colney Heath Village Hall. It will be performed at the 450-seat Weston Auditorium, Hatfield, in February.
For further details, phone 0844 800 8296 or email info@rareproductions.co.uk
Caroline Thain
© Herts Advertiser 2007. Reproduced by permission