‘A national institution’, northern soap opera Coronation Street approaches its celebration of 60 years on our TV screens; in our living rooms; in our lives; and in our hearts, and many characters have duly earned the title of ‘national treasure’. To mark the golden milestone of 50 years, back in 2010, long-standing scriptwriter for the show, Jonathan Harvey, penned Corrie!, the play looking back on a period of 2,000 thousand storylines, 37 births, 115 deaths, 86 marriages and countless iconic and memorable characters, emulating and mirroring normality and real life.
The comedic play, written as a string of scenes from the serial drama, premiered at The Lowry in Salford Quays in August 2010 and a musical of similar style followed, written by a co-writer, entitled ‘Street of Dreams’ - it opened for the only time at Manchester Arena for a surprisingly short run and was matched by an almost unheard album called ‘Rogues, Angels, Heroes & Fools’ which also featured iconic characters and scenes. Another institution is that of the arts, particularly theatre, and those within a society or company could indeed be local heroes and treasurers. That is true for one Altrincham Garrick Playhouse, who/which plays host to the play for its World Amateur Premiere!
With stalwarts of the theatre’s own society, newcomers and those who have performed there as members of both theatre itself and the various societies who have used it as a receiving house, the cast - doubling up on some parts - of 22 are brilliant at portraying a whole selection of characters, aided by wigs, accents and carefully matched mannerisms. It really is a joy to behold.
Directed by seasoned performer himself, Bill Platt, we are treated to narrator Martin Oldfield guiding us through the scenes, starting with the unforgettable “battleaxe”, Blanche Hunt (played by Janet Slade) at the pearly gates of Heaven, with Oldfield as St Peter. With reference to her renowned presence at the funerals of strangers, often for the free buffet, and attendance at the court trials of murderers, complete with a packed lunch, her portrayal is the first of many perfect replications of the originals. We also experience the reminiscence of {apologises for some of the missing pieces} Ena Sharples (Val Watkinson), Elsie Tanner (Beverley Stuart-Cole), Gail Potter/Tilsley/Platt/Hillman/etc. (Kim Armston), Brian Tilsley and Denis Tanner (Sam Evans), Sarah-Lou Platt (Lottie Warburton), Martin Platt (James Merrington), Ken Barlow (Andrew Higson) and Deidre Rashid/Barlow (Sarah Kirk), Valerie Barlow, Ray Langton (Jame Merrington), Raquel (Kim Armston), Mike Baldwin (Graham Simmonds), Audrey Roberts, Ivy Tilsley and Rita Littlewood/Tanner/Fairclough (Carmel Price), Len Fairclough (Andy Withers) and Alan Bradley/Richard Hillman (Michael Gallagher), Hilda Ogden (Charlie Gallagher) and Stan (Andy Withers), Jack and Vera Duckworth (Andy Withers and Val Watkinson), Minnie Caldwell (Graham Simmonds), Martha Longhurst (Adele Higson), Roy (Eddie Beasley) and Hayley Cropper, Hylda Baker, Annie Walker (Ruth Metcalfe), Peter Barlow (Sam Evans), Tracy Barlow, Steve McDonald (Adam Rogers) and one-time wife Karen and Shelley Unwin (both Beverley Stuart-Cole), florist Lucy (Laura Therese), Becky Grainger/McDonald (Kim Arnston), Eileen Grimshaw (Ruth Metcalfe) and sons Jason (Adam Rogers) and Todd (Charlie Gallagher), and even Fred Elliott and son Ashley Peacock, wife Maxine, Emily Bishop, Tony Gordon (Andy Withers), Carla and Michelle Connor, as well as the only reference to the John Stape/Colin Fishwick fraud saga, Gail’s many husbands and lovers - we forgot boat-sailing fraudster Joe - and Peter’s son Simon and his many love triangles, Tracy’s daughter Amy and her tricking Roy and Hayley into paying to look after her before admitting her biological father s Steve McDonald,
Hayley’s ‘coming out’ to Roy as transgender, the Sally-Kevin/Molly-Tyrone hoo-har, as well as Ken and canal boat/barge owner/writer, Martha. {Sorry I have omitted Josh Bluer and Laura Therese and the actress playing Hayley}
The clever use of the well-though out and constructed set for scene changes via rolling platforms through archways was slick and effective, contributing to the comedy at times. These depicted the famous living rooms, Blackpool (including tram), a Metrolink tram that derailed off the viaduct, the florist, corner shop and, of course, The Rovers Return, among other nostalgic event settings.
After a successful first week, this runs for another week until Sunday 15th.
Reviewer - John Kristof
on - 9/9/19
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