Reviews of Previous Events
I'm an Aristocrat - Get me out of here - 20 April 2012
The latest Rural Touring Arts show at the Village Hall on April 20th – “I’m An Aristocrat, Get Me Out of Here” – was well supported and well received. Everyone seemed to have found the performance very enjoyable, amusing, clever and well executed and much to everyone’s delight the ad-libbing of the actors and the interaction with the audience was much appreciated. The large stage set up at one end of the Hall was used to good effect with elaborate scaffolding and sword fights, and the three actors playing over 20 roles did so with professional competence to turn the French Revolution story into an inventive comedy adventure!
An evening packed full of hilarious slapstick, verbal wit with fast paced fun and thrilling action, this show delights an audience of all ages!
Pretty Witty Nell - 21 November 2009
Cheshire’s latest Rural Touring Arts production to come to Mollington and Backford Village Hall on Saturday, November 21st, was “Pretty, Witty Nell”. The title refers to King Charles II's mistress and this is how the famous diarist of the late seventeenth century, Samuel Pepys, described her.
Caroline Harding, the actress playing the role and an experienced performer with theatre companies, like the RSC and the Bristol Old Vic, was able, with consummate skill, to bring this lesser known historical character to life in an engaging, witty fashion. Many of Nell’s contemporaries from London’s higher society were featured with Caroline assuming several roles, thus giving the audience an enriched insight into the London Restoration scene. The text of the play had been written by Caroline Harding, and the response of the audience of about 52 people was hugely appreciative.
The next Network production will be coming to our village sometime in the late Spring – do support us then, for we are so lucky, living as we do in a rural community, to have the opportunity of welcoming these professional touring productions.
Ruth E. Bowler
Daniel Smith Blues Night - 26 September 2009
‘A stonking good night’ - as one audience member put it!
Any cobwebs left in the Village Hall after cleaning were well and truly blown away by the evening’s entertainment on 26th September. The Daniel Smith Blues Band took to the stage and treated the audience to a night of fantastic blues and boogie woogie tunes. Driving all the way from London and Scotland (and back) to play for us just shows the dedication of these professional musicians.
From the first tune the audience were tapping and rocking to Daniel’s keyboard with a certain immediate awareness of what was in store for the night. Honky Tonk Train, Ain’t Nobody’s Business, You & Me were some of the tunes played with solo performances by Jon T-Bone Taylor on lead blues guitar and Pete Miles on drums and, at one stage, on Village Hall fire extinguisher! 
After a well earned break canapés were served and glasses re-stocked for the second set. On arrival before the gig, Daniel had asked for the old piano in the bar to be moved into the hall. The fact that it not been tuned for years didn’t seem to matter as Daniel leapt of the stage to remove the piano’s outer cladding to expose the hammers and strings! The Hall piano had the work-out of its life as it heaved under Daniel’s deft fingerwork. A standing ovation ensued!
All this might not have come to pass as the London contingent had forgotten to pack certain electrical kit for Daniel. A chance call for tickets at 7pm by Andrew Logan saved the night as Andrew plays in his own band and had all the required kit. A big thank-you to Andrew for that!
CD sales were brisk with Daniel posting them on too (left in London!).
This fund-raising night was great fun, well attended by an enthusiastic audience who got to their feet a number of times during the gig. Barclay’s Bank, with some pushing by Brian Thaxter, gave us matching funds to help make a good contribution of £ 750 to the Kitchen Fund.
A big thank you to all those who helped behind the scenes without which these functions would never happen.
If you would like more of this at the Village Hall just let us know!
Stephen Thackray