The show must go on
Last updated 12:22, Thursday, 03 April 2008
Over the past 80 years Carlisle Musical Society has impressed audiences with its mixture of old favourites and timeless classics.
It was 1959 when amateur dramatics enthusiast John Metcalfe decided he wanted to try his hand at musicals and when he heard that Carlisle Musical Society were putting on a performance of Oklahoma! he knew this was his chance.
John was living in Aspatria at the time and had been involved in productions in Maryport and was keen to audition for the part of cowboy Will Parker.
He said: “I have always been involved in amateur dramatics but I wanted to get involved in musicals. I really wanted to play the part of Will Parker. I didn’t think I would get it but I did.”
This was the beginning of his career with Carlisle Musical Society and now after 50 years performing and directing with the society, he is stepping down as director.
Out of the 27 productions he has appeared in, his most memorable characters have been Professor Higgins in My Fair Lady, a musical he has appeared in twice and directed twice, along with Fagan in Oliver, which he has also played twice and directed twice. He said: “They are wonderful characters to play. I like the words – they just roll off the tongue.”
The first musical John, 72, directed was the Merry Widow at the City Hall in 1974.
“All amateur groups used to get professional directors in but they became too expensive to use,” he said. “I have always preferred acting to directing but I thought it would be interesting to get involved with the other side.”
And after directing 16 musicals for the society he is currently in the process of directing his last show, Crazy for You, performed at the Sands Centre from Friday, April 11 to Sunday, April 13.
It is a tap dancing musical comedy featuring music by Ira and George Gershwin and is an adaptation of the Gershwins’ musical Girl Crazy (1930).
John said: “As a director you have to fuse all the elements together, from the musical director to the choreographer. I like directing the dialogue and some movement on stage.
“It is a thrill to see it all come together.”
Carlisle Musical Society was created in 1928, when it first performed Merrie England, at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Lowther Street, the society’s home until the theatre closed in the 1962.
The society then moved to the City Hall until it was demolished in the late 1980s so that Tullie House Museum could be extended.
Then Newman School became the venue for its performances, but only being able to put on shows during the school holidays meant that the society decided to start performing at the Sands Centre in 2001.
John, who was a primary school teacher, said: “Putting on a show at the Sands Centre is very stressful because we have to do everything in one day – such as organising the lighting and microphones.
“ I think it is now time to let someone else have a chance at directing.”
John has also directed performances for Maryport Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society and Carlisle Green Room Club, for which he will carry on directing plays.
John isn’t the only member of the society who is standing down this year. Musical director Janice Jackson, 54, is standing down after 40 years in the society.
She joined at the age of 14, following in the footsteps of her society-member dad.
She took singing lessons and progressed through the chorus before taking on her first lead role in Bless the Bride in 1979, where she starred alongside Joe Wallace at the City Hall.
South Pacific, My Fair Lady, The Sound of Music, Hello Dolly and Oklahoma! are among other shows Janice has been involved in.
She became assistant musical director before taking the role as musical director in 1979.
Janice, who takes private singing lessons, said: “It is a real change to be out at the front conducting the orchestra rather than acting on stage. It is still rewarding though.
“We used to choose shows depending on who we had in the society but then we decided to open things out to other people.
“Every few years we also try to do a production that has parts for children, such as Oliver and Annie.”
It was in the early 1980s that Janice was involved in a performance of Annie and the society had advertised for dogs to play Annie’s dog Sandy.
“The dog we chose was fine in rehearsals but when it came to the dress rehearsals the dog wouldn’t do what he had been doing all along,” she said.
“I had to bring my dog in and we had to entice him with chocolate treats.”
An accident two years ago in which Janice damaged her right wrist and back has meant that conducting has been made difficult and while she is stepping down as musical director she may go back to singing with the society.
n Tickets for Crazy For You cost £10/£9 (plus concessions). Call 01228 625222.
