Letters: Westenders praised after Bugsy Malone success

Last weekend, I enjoyed and glowed with pride while watching the Westenders’ latest community production of Bugsy Malone at Theatr Brycheiniog in Brecon.

For nearly 80 years, Westenders have produced theatrical productions with local people for our Brecon community and the surrounding area. The latest production, Bugsy Malone, showcased the wealth of talent among our young people, who sang, danced and acted to a high standard and gave their audiences a joyous, fun-filled show. Each and every young person was given an opportunity to shine, and they did so with skill and aplomb. I could wax lyrical about every young person on the stage and their discipline and focus in the changing rooms.

However, I wish to discuss the creativity, artistry, skill and determination that go into producing a wonderful show like Bugsy Malone. It starts with an idea, a vision or someone’s personal dream. Bugsy Malone was Julie Jones’ dream. For almost 20 years, Julie had spoken of producing this show and, this year, the show and the dream came true. Westenders Amateur Dramatic Group made it happen.

It happened because almost a hundred local people got behind the dream, excluding those on stage, starting with the Westenders committee, who said yes and invited people to share their skills, time and energy to see it through to fruition.

Many Westenders have been in the organisation since childhood – Julie Jones’ writing skills and leadership developed and honed in Westenders; Michelle Davies, who produced the sizzling costumes of the 1920s, and her team of makers and doers; Di Altmeyer and Tina Barker, who organised inventive sets and props; and Emily Chambers, the choreographer, who has been dancing with Westenders since she was a little girl.

Our highly talented band of musicians, led by Roger Smith, all gave their skill and artistry willingly, working with trained and fledgling singers. The front-of-house and chaperoning teams are all local people prepared to give their time and energy to Westenders. The backstage crew have taken time to be trained in their own time and love dressing in black. Others who I have failed to mention.

One actor on a stage in a spotlight takes an army of people to get her there.

Westenders is an army of people – a wonderful company of volunteers who give to their community, year on year. Here’s to another 80 years of giving, thriving and bringing Brecon and the surrounding area together, whether to see a pantomime, a show like Bugsy Malone or a quiz night at Westies Hall.

With pride, with appreciation and with love.

Joan Manley, Chairwoman, Westenders Amateur Dramatic Group

Yet again, the Westenders gave an amazing comedy rendition of a show based on the 1976 New York gangster musical Bugsy Malone at Theatr Brycheiniog in Brecon last week.

The storyline follows the rise of Bugsy Malone and the battle for power between “Fat Sam” and “Dandy Dan”. With machine guns that “splurge” fire gobs of whipped cream instead of bullets (and there was a lot of it!), bodies were continually being dragged off the stage – to much humour – as the battle between the gangs persisted.

In the opening, mob boss Fat Sam introduces Bugsy Malone, a penniless boxing promoter who is “a little too popular with the broads” – but a nice guy. As the gang and personal rivalry plots thicken, the audience was delighted with some amazing song and dance routines fit for the West End.

At the show’s conclusion, everyone begins to laugh, realising they can exist together as friends, whilst almost bathing in splurge, which also managed to cover half of the orchestra. Great fun.

The set and costumes in the production were stunning and, on this occasion, it would be less than appropriate to single out any one member of the cast, as they together and individually brought the house down with laughter and applause.

Director Julie Jones, Producer/Stage Manager Di Altmyer, Choreographer Emily Chambers, Musical Director Roger Smith and their supporting teams were once again saluted by the admiring Brecon community, happy to have attended another spectacle of local talent.

More please…

Alban Dunn, Brecon