Pharisee

Victoria Hall, Bolton PHARISEE, a musical about Nicodemus by Roger Jones, last night came to Bolton as the third stop on a 27-stage national tour.

An audience of about a thousand gave an ecstatic reception to this latest Christian musical by Roger Jones, who is well known for his work in that genre. He fleshed out the character of character of the learned Nicodemus with few Gospel references on which to draw.

The majority of the audience were probably believers but even non-Christians would have admired the music and certainly would have been won over by the "professional" performance of an essentially amateur company drawn from the Christian community in the Midlands.

The backing choir was something of which locals could be proud. The United Christian Singers from Greater Manchester, including members from Bolton, gave a fine performance as was acknowledged by the composer, who was also the conductor. Devon Brown, who played the title role, has a fine voice and a good understanding of the various musical idioms brought together in this musical set in the days shortly before and after the Crucifixion.

Also outstanding among the male voices was Bob Deakin as Joseph of Arimathea.

The female principals and dancers were well chosen. Jenny Schofield as Ruth, the wife of Nicodemus, showed the benefit of considerable experience with touring companies.

Debra Collins, as Abigail, the servant, had a rich voice, while some of the younger members of the company showed great promise. Lucy Rowse, young enough to have been finishing her GCSEs, has a sweet voice and a good stage presence, while Hope Turner, a chorus member, demonstrated the versatility of this company by playing saxophone in one of the closing numbers.

It was an uplifting evening which had the audience clapping along with enthusiasm in parts. DOREEN CROWTHER

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.