Bernie’s Old Tyme Music Hall

As part of Garrick Theatre Club’s 90th birthday celebrations, they are closing their anniversary celebrations with

Bernie’s Old Tyme Music Hall is named in honour of the late Mr. Bernard Doyle, who as well as being a long-time president and a life member of Garrick Theatre, was also the MC and director of Oliver's Old Tyme Music Hall, which ran for 12 years in the 1980s aand 1990s in Midland, then the nearby Mechanics Hall. Among those to tread the boards with ‘Mr Bernie’ was the director, Kerry Goode (often referred to - and very appropriately for this show as “Dame” Kerry Goode).

As is traditional in music hall, the evening has a variety of entertainments, including traditional music hall songs, encouragement to sing along, sketches and poems. At times it is quite naughty, and may cause the ladies to blush! 

In place of the traditional melodrama, we are treated to Yvette Wall’s award-winning short play Ladies Who Wait, which recently received multiple accolades at the Short and Sweet Festival. This brief, irreverent little piece features Anne Boleyn (played with grace by Victoria Abbot) and two ladies in waiting (given great comic characterisations by Colleen Bradford and Fiona Forster) in Anne Boleyn’s final moments in her cell prior to her execution. While decidedly NOT a melodrama as stated in the script, this well-performed play was a pleasant diversion, and provided some good laughs and things to ponder.

Chaired with aplomb by Siobhan Vincent, the cast features nine other performers, all referred to throughout as Miss or Mr and their first name. Lovely work from Fiona Forster, Jenna McGougan-Shaw Susan Deforges, Victoria Abbot, Colleen Hopkins, Collen Bradford, Ray Egan, Christopher Churchouse and Alan Shaw. Highlights include “La Vie En Rose”, expertly performed “en francais” by Miss Fiona and Mr Alan, and the excellent recitations from Mr Ray. The audience were clearly having fun throughout and joined in with the singing whether invited or not.

The set is sumptuous and beautiful – the best I have seen for a Music Hall and features interesting projections. The show is well lit by Don Allen and Geoff Holt and features a plethora of colourful costumes co-ordinated by Sally Forbes, Colleen Bradford and Kerry Goode.

Bernie’s Old Tyme Music Hall is proving very popular. A perfect choice for a 90^th birthday and a fun way to end the year.

Kimberley Shaw