A LITTLE bit of the American south came to the Victoria Halls last week courtesy of the Helensburgh Savoy Musical Theatre Group's production of Oklahoma!.

Starring Savoy debutant Michael Doyle as rugged cowboy Curley McLain and Linsey Rippon as farm girl Laurey, the show was performed before five enthusiastic and appreciative audiences from November 2 to 5.

Featuring well-known and much-loved musical numbers such as Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin', I Cain't Say No, People Will Say We're In Love and, of course, Oklahoma! itself, Rodgers and Hammerstein's first musical collaboration has been performed by professional and amateur musical groups throughout the world ever since its Broadway premiere in 1943.

This year's show - the 32nd since the club was formed in 1984 - was the group's second performance of Oklahoma!, first staged in Helensburgh back in 2004.

Pauline Forrest, the group's secretary, said: “It was a very successful show. Oklahoma is very well known, but it's also quite a long show, so it can make for a lengthy evening, but all our audiences seemed to enjoy it.”

The show's cast also included Emily MacGillivray as the flirtatious Ado Annie, Jordan Lee Sharkey as Will Parker, Colin Rettie as Jud Fry, May Connelly as Aunt Eller and Mark Trick as Ali Hakim.

“Both Michael and Emily were new to the club this year,” Pauline continued, “but we're fairly confident they're going to continue with us for future seasons.

“It was particularly nice that we had three or four new people involved with this year's production.

“Michael and his wife Jo actually came along to the auditions at more or less the 11th hour,” Pauline added. “They barely had time to register their interest before Michael was cast as Curley!

“We only do one show a year of this nature, and although we were competing with lots of other attractions at a very busy time of year, all our audiences were appreciative – they certainly clapped in all the right places, and one or two of them could even be heard singing along.

“We also have a lot of backstage support from people who, of course, are never seen on stage, but we're very grateful to them all for their efforts.”

Next up for the club – after a well-earned festive break – is its annual 'Sing For Your Supper' charity fund-raiser, which will take place in February and will see local individuals and groups invited to take to the stage.

Proceeds from that event will go to the group's chosen charity for 2017, Alzheimer Scotland – Action on Dementia, while a decision on the group's big 2017 production will be made early in the new year.

* Thanks to Robert Bell of West Highland Photography for the pictures from the show.