1948 Merrie England
	The following article appeared in the July 1948 "Salfordian"
		The long series of operas and musical comedies produced by the school Choral Society, under the direction of Mr A. Taylor, in the years before the war was resumed this term after a long interruption. As in 1930, the choice fell upon Edward German's ever-popular Merrie England, and after months of strenuous rehearsing, the performance took place before large audiences at the Pendleton Co-operative Hall on February 4th, 5th and 7th 1948. The opera was was produced and conducted by Mr A. Taylor assisted by Mr R. D. Poppitt; K. Leeming and M. Friesner acted as Assistant Stage Managers. The orchestra cosisted of present and former boys of the School, and, as on many similar occasions in the past, Mr. Fred Pritchard acted as pianist. The performances fell no whit below the standard we have learned to expect in great efforts of this nature, both in the individual and collective items. It is dangerous, we are told, to select any particular person for praise, but we must mention specially E. Shaw as Bessie, Milton as the Queen, D. Taylor as Raleigh, Whitehead as Essex, J. Openshaw as the May Queen, and above all Wooley and J. Bailey as the irrepressible Wilkin and his foil, Simpkins. The minor characters and chorus worked hard, helping to produce the final effect which can only come from all concerned, great and small, pulling together. It is with this in mind, that we especially mention the dancing and orchestral playing. One could tell of many moments when the conductor's pulse stood still, but altogether, the production remained comendable. We must thank Mr. Southworth and Mr. Scott, the electricians, for their part in staging our production, but, above all, the mothers and friends who did so much unseen work in costuming.
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