As Sid, old Extravite Dennis Brown sustained a familiar role with too few opportunities to display his pleasant singing voice.

Rosemary Lovergrove's tremendous stage personality communicated zest to every scene, and a nasally-clear voice left no word unheard and no turn unstoned.

Sylvienne Cockburn as Sally exuberated attractively; both cast and audience have taken her to their heart.

Sheriff outstanding

Ted Woodfield as the "rootin'est, tootin'est sheriff in the West" is the find of the year; a pleasant clear voice and a stood characterization made his performance the most interesting in the show; more of Ted and Rosemary in Act II would have sustained the polish of the first act.

In Ross O'Rourke was the best Wol for years.

Ron Poison is a man of many parts, and he played most of them in this Extrav. Rosemary and Ron have perfected their jazz act at many a bash: although similar stimulation would have added the little extra we expected, the audience response was terrific. The "booze" song brought back childhood memories.

The team of Homewood and Ferrers was much more amusing this year; both have engaging stage presence and oldest jokes since Adam raised Cain.

Ted ("Georgie Porgie") Shroeder taxed the wardrobe resources to the full; it was a pity that more use was not made of his comic talent and ultra-counter-tenor voice.

As premiere danseuse, Tom Garland was too good; some of the audience were taken in by his propriety and earnest technique. He lacked the comic flair of, say, Colin Gordon, but nevertheless performed very well. As usual, the male ballet was a motley bunch of stinking violets and sweaty williams.

Talented principals

All the principals sang clearly and wherever they sang loud enough hardly a line was missed. It is difficult to recall in Extravs over the just eight years such a talented group of principals. The chorus, younger this year than previously, provided more than adequate decoration, was just as unwieldy in movement, but sang quite well.

The "Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered" number with Dennis Brown was the best chorus number in the show. Perhaps at last VUC can try a musical comedy along "Salad Day?" and "Guys and Dolls" lines, perhaps even a show with a plot.

The lyrics to familiar tunes were catchy, competent, and clever, without reaching the heights of isolated lyrics in previous shows. Garth Young's band in the modern style was as good as any touring band heard at the Opera House, but, as usual, the brass needed firmer control.

Awkward stage-movements sometimes marred the fluency of the production and late entrances spoilt cohesion. Lighting was adequate and unexciting, except for the "macabre" number. The first act was good, the second not so, but a rousing finale continued a worthy practice.

The script was more coherent than usual, with fewer bewildering devolutions, transformations, and transitions. Some members of the audience complained about viewing for the umpteenth year the same old characters, but undoubtedly they were more skilfully (and more gainfully employed).

The international scene was not prominent, and apparently the barbed political reference of Bollinger and gang has gone out of fashion. Similarly, good old-style sex found no place in a rather antiseptic Extrav., and lavatory humour caused not the lightest flush.

Passive audience

Holiday spirit was lacking; the audience before the show and during interval was bovine in passivity; there were much fewer darts, no haka party, and no interval entertainment. The interval show has been an integral part of the Extrav. tradition for many years; it is a pity that over the last two years it has been allowed to lapse.

Of the eight Extravs we have seen, none gave greater promise than "The Seven Year Switch." Rumour has it that Bill Sheat is already writing the next show. Such talent as we nave in Sylvienne, Rosemary, Dennis, Ted, Ron, Ross, Tony, Derek and especially Ted Shroeder, should not be wasted.

This year's show was good, very good; what it could be next year is foreshadowed by the "Bewitched" number, the two Teds' songs, Sylvienne and Rosemary's dances, Dennis' and Ross' sparring match, and Derek and Tony's cross-chat. No one at Vic. should have missed this show.