FERNEHAM HALL, FAREHAM 2ND, 3RD, 4TH JUNE 2016

 Mrs Blitztein.....................Jessie Wright
Carol Blitztein.................Sian Samways
Harry Blitztein...................Ethan Emery
Siddy Blitztein.................Aiden Creasey
Rachel Blitztein.................Mishka Cook
Cissy Blitztein................Pheobe Le May
Alfred Locke.................Adam Brombley
Georgie Locke......................Jonah Ford
Frances Locke...............Emilia Barnden
Ernie Nearmiss..................Dylan Rutter
Joyce Matthews......Jasmin Richardson
Elsie.........................................Zoe Elliot
Tommy Blackwell..........Edward Carroll
Buddyboy..............................Milo Baker
Mr Josephs............................Milo Baker
Mrs Josephs.......................Molley Berry
Mr Murphy.........................John Pimlott
Mrs Murphy.....................Mollie Munday
Peg Murphy....................Heather Bryant
Mr Sen...............................Kieran Poling
Mrs Sen.............................Amber Harris
Ping-Hi...............................Samuel Beer
Billy Ping-Hi........................Luke Causer
Mr Finkelstein.....................Sam Barnes
Janet Popkiss....................Niamh Foley
Tina Baggleovitch.......Renee Saunders
Esther Finkelstein...........Amelie Carver
Mary O'Hara...................Jasmine Berry
Mrs Smith....................Eleanor Shellard
Mrs Higgins..................Emily Blackburn
Alfie Higgins.......................Jack Callard
Bird...................................Charlie Foord
School Teacher......................Amy Allen
Policeman...........................Sam Barnes
Sergeant Major..Branden Cable-Rogers
1st Civ Def Off...................Emily Bassett
2nd Civ Def Off....Charleigh Lammiman
3rd Civ Def Off..............Teagan Williams
Policeman.........Branden Cable-Rogers
Military Policeman...........Kieron Poling
Military Policeman............Samuel Beer
Flight Lt..............Branden Cable-Rogers
Nun.................................Maisie Creasey
Nun......................................Jess Hunter
Sarsaparilla Merchant......Kieran Poling
Mr O'Hara..........................Charles Clark
Janet Popkiss.....................Niamh Foley
Fireman...............................Jacob Hogg
Fireman................................Grace Allen
Fireman..........................Edward Ndlovu
Fireman............................Luke Marshall
Joanie Jones......................Teagan Cook
Kathy Murphy..................Faith Williams
Mary O'Hara....................Jasmine Berry
Mrs Bamburger.............Anwen Treacher
Mrs Flaherty.........................Zoe Pimlott
Mrs Bezunanoff...............Maisie Creasey
Mr Mendainikoff...................Jacob Hogg
Mr Solomons........................Grace Allen
Mr Eisenstein....................Luke Marshall
Tramp..................................Sam Barnes
Charlie (ARP Warde..........Charlie Foord
Busker..................................Sam Barnes
Cheesemonger....................Jacob Hogg
Street Sweeper.............Eleanor Murphy
Canteen Lady..................Maisie Creasey
Street Trader..................Edward Ndlovu
Assenheim Merchant........Isobel Carver
Merchant....................Annalucia Navato
Soldier..................................Jacob Hogg
Soldier...................................Grace Allen
Soldier............................Edward Ndlovu
Soldier..............................Luke Marshall
Res of Petticoat Lane.........Annie O'Hea 

 Director – Jacqui Ivemy
Musical Director – Dennis Brombley
Choreographer – Phoebe Saunders
Venue – Ferneham Hall, Fareham
Type of production – Musical

In a week when I had also seen Lionel Bart’s Oliver! it was interesting to contrast his lesser known musical Blitz!, which opened in London just two years later in 1962, and wonder why it has never achieved the same degree of success. As its name suggests, Blitz is set in the East End of London during the intense aerial bombings of World War Two and focuses on two families: the Jewish Blitzteins and the cockney Lockes, who run adjacent market stalls in Petticoat Lane but do not get on with each other. We follow the lives of the two families as they endure the bombing, their sons going off to war – or deserting – and we see the racial and social diversity that existed in the East End, which didn’t stop people pulling together to survive, despite having their homes destroyed and living with the lasting effects of the injuries they suffered.

It is a great tribute to the director, Jacqui Ivemy, and the maturity of the young actors involved that they managed to portray so well not only the suffering endured by East Enders of the time, but also the overriding cheerfulness that saw them through. Jessie Wright, as the matriarch Mrs Blitztein,and Adam Brombley as her adversary, Alfred Locke, carried a lot of responsibility for the success of the show- but we were in safe hands. Both gave confident and assured performances, with excellent acting and singing and spot-on accents.
They were ably supported by Ethan Emery as Harry Blitztein, the cowardly son who went AWOL and worked as a spiv, and Jonah Ford as Georgie Locke, the brave son who went to war, returning injured but still in love with Carol Blitztein (Sian Samways). Carol had been blinded during an air raid but Georgie still loved her and their eventual marriage unites the two families. Dylan Rutter as Harry’s sidekick, Ernie Nearmiss, always bringing news of tragedy and disaster, produced a great character andall four gave excellent, believable performances. There was a huge cast of supporting characters, who all created and sustained the wartime atmosphere really well, many doubling up on parts. One character who particularly stood out for me was Mrs Smith, who had some wonderfully cutting lines, delivered to perfection by Eleanor Shellard.

I must pay tribute to director Jacqui Ivemy for pulling together such a big production, choreographer Phoebe Saunders, for managing to get the large cast to move with great precision, without it looking staged, and Wardrobe Mistress Mandy Baker for finding so many authentic-looking costumes. Praise too for the set design and construction team – I was surprised to be told that it was not a hired set – they had built it all themselves. It was most impressive – especially the tube station. The orchestra, with Dennis Brombley at the helm, must also be congratulated, for providing a good sound, very much in keeping with the era, and never drowning out the singers.

It was a powerful story with many parallels with the world we live in today,so I can only think that the lack of success originally was perhaps partly because 1962was too soon after the real events to look back, and also that the show never ran on Broadway (it was thought that New Yorkers would not share Londoners’ nostalgia for the period). The tunes are very much in keeping with the war period, but nowhere near as catchy as those of Oliver – although you do get hints of the same melodies coming through at times - and while it’s not a laugh-out-loud show, there are plenty of gently amusing moments. With the benefit of greater distance from the war, I believe this show deserves a revival and if it were to be performed with anything like the gusto, enthusiasm and talent of Stage One Youth Theatre, it would be an enormous success.