Winging

November 19th, 2018

“Met Betty at the stage door in conversation about days gone by. She’d been dropped off at the front door, where we’d arranged to meet her, and walked round to stage door! It wouldn’t be the first time she’s been brought up the stairs on the arm of a techie, having been found somewhere in the building! She couldn’t sleep last night so started to recall routines – one of which she taught us today – a soft shoe shuffle to ‘Tea for Two’. It was great and a style all of her own – no taps on the heels and always on the balls of the feet. Betty’s forte was winging – pendulum wings – one foot moving side to side and the other foot moving forward and back, both at the same time. (Check the movie ‘Broadway Melody” for some great winging).

Catherine Bromley from Festival Theatre popped in and reminded us of the Christmas Show photos that Betty brought in last week and the photo that matched the playbill on the wall in the Empire Rooms! We plan to do more work on Festival Theatre’s archive in weeks to come. Also Doreen, as a life-long member and with her Equity connection, was pleased about Maureen Beattie appointment as President, saying ‘It’s a changing world and she is the right person for the job’. – Janice Parker