FIRST applause of the evening came from the evacuated audience outside the theatre when the Grand's house manager let us back inside after an hour when fire engines had dealt with security alarms and smoke coming from a nearby building.
Sailor, Beware! had already suffered one crisis when Ruth Madoc withdrew because of ill-health.
Samantha Hughes took over as battle-axe Mrs Hornett, in the role originally made famous by Peggy Mount, bossing everybody from ferret-mad husband to beautiful daughter Shirley (Katharine Monaghan) as she plans to marry sailor Albert (Christopher Hackett).
Despite three cast changes everybody gave a splendid performance and everything gelled except the scenery which caused them a few problems.
Undeterred they ad libbed merrily away and in a hilarious scene with two sailors smoking in bed Albert referred to the fire brigade! (Perhaps you had to be there!)
Lucinda Curtis is gloriously cast as eccentric Aunty Edie who reads the tea-leaves and forecasts broken hearts, and the superb Michael Tudor Barnes (Willy Roper in EastEnders) is hen-pecked husband Henry.
Best man Carnoustie is played admirably by George Telfer and sexy Jo Castleton is flirtatious bridesmaid Daphne.
The moral, therefore, is beware of mother-in-law (anagram 'woman Hitler'!).
Sailor, Beware! runs at the Grand Theatre, Blackpool until tomorrow. Contact 01253 290190 for tickets.
RUTH LOFT
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