The strong opening scene featured the full cast (apart from ‘The Man’) on stage. The townspeople, enraptured by Jesus and the life of the church, sang their hearts out, dressed in costumes that perfectly reflected their community and way of life.

The sisters’ trio was magical, as was the poignant scene in which their father expressed his grief at the loss of their mother. “God will never forsake us” was his heartfelt and loving message.

Swallow, the eldest sister — perfectly suited to the role with her blonde ringlets and pale-yellow dress — delivered several fabulous solos, duets, and trios throughout the show.

How would the well-known turning point of the storyline — the discovery in the barn — be portrayed? With a dramatic clap of thunder, ‘The Man’ was revealed and seen by Swallow for the first time. It was an electric moment.

The actor portraying ‘The Man’ (Blaine Gosling) seemed made for the role, delivering a truly stupendous performance. The duets between the man and Swallow (Molly Gudz) were deeply moving and showcased their fabulous, harmonious voices. The pair are professional London actors, who portrayed Eva and Che in BMTC’s 2024 production of EVITA. Blaine’s roots are in BMTC along with the rest of his family, who also appear regularly in their productions.

Another memorable pairing, ‘Amos and Candy’, performed a passionate duet seated on a motorcycle — just one of the many effective props enhancing the storytelling.

It was encouraging to see a new member of the company take on a lead role as ‘Poor Baby’. The talented eleven-year-old, who has been in the chorus of panto for the last six years, debuted her first lead role, and was perfectly cast as the youngest sister, well supported by her middle sibling ‘Brat’.

The children were front and centre throughout, their importance encapsulated in the powerful song “When Children Rule the World.” They gathered wide-eyed around ‘The Man’, listening intently to his stories. The escaped killer assumed the role of Jesus the storyteller and vividly portrayed ‘Annie Christmas’, complete with a moustache. When the children demanded the moral of the tale, the criminal found himself unable to provide one. Despite this, it was deeply touching to see the impoverished children offer their treasured personal belongings to ‘The Man’ as gifts — a poignant juxtaposition of innocent faith and hidden guilt.

The drama unfolded on an innovative stage layout. A delightful image of corn formed the backdrop, later transforming into a railway tunnel with stunning effect for the dramatic train scene. Straw bales, pails, and churns constructed the barn on one side, while the sisters’ home occupied the other, with red-and-white checked tablecloth and lace-adorned windows. A versatile central section allowed for seamless transitions between scenes.

Thanks to the cast’s clear diction — both spoken and sung — the storyline was easy to follow. Tear-jerking, pathos-filled moments were beautifully interwoven with lively, well-choreographed dance numbers and uplifting songs.

This superb performance clearly delighted the audience, with several members jumping to their feet in rapturous applause.

There’s still a chance to see this magnificent musical performance at St Austell Arts Centre on Fri/Sat 6th & 7th March at 7.30pm plus a Saturday Matinee at 2.30pm. Tickets are £16 for Adults and £13 for Under 16's, available from Cornwall365 Box Office: 01209 312505 (Open Weekdays 10am to 3pm) BUYTICKETS.AT/BODMINMUSICALTHEATRECOMPANY

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