BARROW'S first amateur musical show at the new Forum 28 opened in June 1990 when Abbey Musical Society sparkled with its production of Finian’s Rainbow.

Set in the deep South of America the musical depicts a poor rural community which is turned upside down by the arrival of the Irish immigrant Finian and his daughter Sharon.

Fantasy appears in the form of Og the Leprechaun who is in hot pursuit of his crock of gold, which has been borrowed by Finian.

The society gave its best and with Gordon Woodhouse in the title role was off to an excellent start. He played a warm, loveable rogue, stated The Mail’s reviewer.

Heather Collinge played Sharon with great charm and spirit and sang all her songs beautifully.

Doug Lowes with twinkling eyes and an impish face was a brilliant Og, making the most of the humour in his role.

Jackie Richards was a lovely Susan, who communicated by dancing and Senator Billboard Rawkins was played by Jeff Gibbon.

Racial prejudice is one theme of the musical. Meanwhile, the romantic side of the show was delightfully done, with Og and Susan a lovely couple and Howard Newby playing a fine Woody Mahoney opposite Sharon.

Mike Woods was suitably funny, anxious and harassed as Senator Rawkins’ assistant Buzz Collins.

Production was by Dorothy Hardy and chorus mistress was Noreen Steel.

In 1991 Abbey Musical Society performed the romantic Victorian story of Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett.

Robert and Elizabeth by Ron Grainer and Ronald Miller was performed at Barrow's Forum 28.

It was the first time the show had been seen in Barrow.

The show tells the story of the romance between Victorian poets Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett.

Elizabeth's father takes the chaperoning of his nine children to extremes.

Elizabeth, played by Anne Woods, wishes to marry Browning and eventually the couple elope.