SIR,

On Saturday 1st October, Monmouth Music Theatre's 'Lady Dingestow's Diamonds' sparkled beautifully in the Priory Rooms, Monmouth.

The music hall mystery was wonderfully performed by the group.

The glittering diamonds were, of course, only a vehicle for the company to display its versatility and undoubted talents.

Costumes, acting, choreography, singing, chorus work and solos all blended into a first class performance which entranced the appreciative audience.

The sing-along songs of yesteryear dated from Victorian/ Edwardian and 1920s Britain when real life was much harder and the need for music hall escapism was even greater than today.

Front of House staff and audience members dressed as flappers and their admirers, adding considerably to the amiability of the already convivial atmosphere.

The wafer-thin plot was skillfully contrived to promote many well-known favourite songs and choruses.

Now and again the musical numbers were show stoppers – 'When I take my morning promenade', 'I want to sing in Opera' and 'The Galloping Major' were performed with such brio the applause was deafening.

Best of all, 'When Father Papered the Parlour' had such a comic quality to it, it stuck in the memory as a turn to smilingly recall throughout the working week.

Lady Dingestow continues her peregrinations this week, displaying her attractive wares in Raglan Community Centre on Friday 7th October and finally and appropriately in Dingestow Village Hall on Saturday 8th October.

David J Harrison

(Monmouth)