Rye Wurlitzer atMilligan Theatre

A slender blonde in a sparklng silver outfit made a striking entrance as the Rye Wurlitzer rose from the depths in traditional cinema organ fashion to the familiar strains of the march Under the Double Eagle.

Reflecting weather conditions Elizabeth Harrison opened her programme with Raining in My Heart, the anticipatory April Showers, Pennies from Heaven and the Destiny Waltz.

A brief reminder of radio’s much-missed Housewives’ Choice came with its signature In Party Mood leading into a selection including the Swinging Safari Blues and Franz Lehar’s Merry Widow Waltz. Cole Porter’s True Love contrasted with All the Nice Girls Love a Sailor, ending on Richard Tauber’s hit from his Land of Smiles score, based of the life of Franz Schubert, You Are my Heart’s Delight.

A sequence beginning with By a Waterfall included Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue, Music Maestro Please, Bring Me Sunshine, and Hello Dolly, closing the first half with the march Blaze Away.

In the second half Elizabeth paid tribute to an organist of the past Dr Arnold Bloxham, whom some of us remember visited Rye in the early 2000s, following this with Frenesi, Strangers in the Night and Here in my Heart.

From the score of My Fair Lady came the nostalgic I Could Have Danced all Night and in seemingly no time Elizabeth was playing We’ll Meet Again.

A sentiment which was assuredly echoed by everyone present on Sunday afternoon.

Review by Marrion Wells