AS SHOWSTOPPERS go Hello, Dolly is surely one of the most famous in the history of American musicals.

One of the many highlights of the Jerry Herman production of the same name, the song's a rousing, bouncy number that's lifted many an auditorium roof in its time, as waiters, cooks, and doormen greet Dolly Levi at the most elegant and expensive restaurant in town.

Storth Entertainers swap the Arnside estuary seascape for the New York skyline, staging the Herman production from Monday, May 12, until Saturday, May 17 (7.30pm).

Dolly is Ann Wodeman, or should I say Ann Wodeman is Dolly, matchmaker extraordinaire: "And what do you do for a living, Mrs Levi?" asks struggling artist Ambrose Kemper (Ben Neve). "Some people paint, some sewI meddle," she replies mischievously.

From what I saw in rehearsals, Ann has got her tongue around the Stateside twang and her lovely singing voice is definitely a huge bonus for the Storth society.

Hello, Dolly is a whirlwind race around the Big Apple and the outlying district of Yonkers telling the story of Mrs Levi's subtle efforts to marry the wealthy hay and feed store owner, Horace Vandergelder.

Brian Barden plays Horace, sporting top hat, gold waistcoat and waving his cane about menacingly in Storth Village Hall, obsessed by money and searching for a second bride.

Enter the beautiful widow Irene Molloy (Lynn Percival).

Now, Lynn has a real sparkle in her eye and in rehearsals gives a seamless performance.

However, it's the comic duo of David Green (Cornelius Hackl) and Bill Seville (Barnaby Tucker) who threaten to steal the show as the scampering twosome's capers get the biggest laughs from onlookers and the assembled cast.

Putting the players through their paces, producer Mike Cooper means business. And the players respond in true thespian style, raising their game, but no tantrums.

In the director's chair is David Sorrell, new to the Entertainers, and "having a baptism of fire" as he puts it - although he seems calm enough on the outside.

Hello, Dolly is a big show to stage for the Entertainers, and costly, particularly the costume hire. So all concerned hope for queues around the block.

With one eye on Vandergelder's bulging cash register, Dolly quotes her late husband Ephraim: "Money, pardon the expression, is like manure.

"It's not worth a thing unless it's spread around, encouraging young things to grow."

Tickets cost £6 and are available from Storth Post Office.

Finally, a good example of how the Entertainers are impressing people in high places is that Sheila Seed has been nominated for the best actress, drama category in the 2002 National Operatic and Dramatic Association (NODA) North West region awards, for her portrayal of Maggie Hobson is last year's Hobson's Choice.

Not only that - the whole production is up for the best play.

No doubt they'll be several little black numbers and stretch limousines leaving Storth on Sunday night, heading for the glittering awards ceremony at Blackpool's De Vere Hotel.

May 1, 2003 11:30