THE SAVOY SINGERS, based in Camberley, Surrey, are a leading and long-established amateur operatic society which prides itself on the excellence and professionalism of its productions. From Gilbert & Sullivan operas through operetta to the modern musical, the Savoy Singers performing at the Camberley Theatre, combine musical quality with innovative production.

Watching this morning's Breakfast Time, my attention was suddenly drawn to an item with Eastenders' star Samantha Womack and the mention of South Pacific. Samantha is presently rehearsing a West End revival of South Pacific with Brazilian opera star Paolo Szot. History repeating itself - Mary Martin starred in the original with opera star Ezio Pinza. Paolo Szot has just completed two and a half years on Broadway with South Pacific and was enjoying working with a new cast and director for this latest London production.

The programme showed a clip of Samantha and Paolo rehearsing "Some Enchanted Evening" and Paolo singing this amazing song. Paolo had won a Tony award for his role in the Broadway production - does anything change, Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals still winning Tony Awards? The musical will be in London's West End from mid August - October and then goes on tour. Samantha said it was a gritty production. This is not Samantha's first musical, she last appeared in Guys and Dolls with Patrick Swazeybefore working on Eastenders. The programme showed Samantha singing "I'm as Corny as Kansas in August" very simply, using a very relaxed tempo.

Coincidentally, we have chosen both these songs to be the  South Pacific contribution to our Rodgers and Hammerstein Revue.You can hear Ian Henderson (our resident opera star!) singing "Some Enchanted Evening" and Sarah Wenban appearing as Mary Martin to sing "I'm as Corny as Kansas in August", the song specially written for Mary Martin in the original production.

Of course our Revue can be seen the first week in October at Camberley's west end theatre, "The Camberley Theatre", so bring your friends for a magical evening of many of Rodgers' and Hammerstein's show revivals
in an evening packed with song.

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