Wandrin Star comes to Felixstowe

LIVELY and colourful dance routines and some of the most famous songs sung in musicals are being polished ready for curtain up on Felixstowe Musical Theatre's latest production.

The group - which has been running 42 years - is preparing to stage Paint Your Wagon, a story of a Californian gold rush town in the mid 1800s, at the Spa Pavilion next week.

Lee Marvin and Clint Eastwood made Paint Your Wagon a huge hit when they starred in the film version in the late 1960s.

The stage show is a little different from the movie but it still contains the same music - including the songs Wanderin' Star, They Call the Wind Maria, and There's a Coach Comin' In.

FMT have been busy rehearsing for months and the show runs from June 11 to 14, nightly at 7.30pm plus a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm.

The story centres on gold town Rumson, almost entirely populated by men who have packed their families and possessions onto wagons to seek their fortunes.

Ben Rumson, played by Alex Shulver, lives there with his daughter Jennifer, played by Betty Charlton, but decides to send her away to school because of the disturbing effect she is having on the male residents - but before he does a Mexican prospector Julio (Ian Jones) arrives and there is an immediate attraction between them.

Meanwhile, another prospector Mormon Jacob Woodling, played by Wes Moore, causes a stir when he is persuaded to auction off one of his wives “to help balance the population”, while gold is discovered and Rumson becomes boom town.

The show is directed by Jan Willis with musical direction by Jeremy Fossett, choreography by Jacki Williamson, wardrobe Sonya Taylor, and the set is designed and built by Richard Smith with company members.

Tickets for Paint Your Wagon are £10 with concessions £8, available from the Spa box office on 01394 282126.

Give us your view of the show - write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk