SEPTEMBER, the start of Newport Playgoers 78th season, offers two magical musical evenings as well as the ever-popular play The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde. An evergreen produced by Carol Canterbury will prove to be an enjoyable, light-hearted and relaxed evening.

September 8 - Masters of Melody II

MASTERS of Melody was first conceived by Steve Williams for a surprise concert for his mother's eightieth birthday. The idea was mooted to Steve's partner, Chris Bissex, who devised all the links and to their great friend Jon Styler who set about the tremendous task of arranging all the music to suit Steve's needs.

The original idea was to present a panoply of 20th century popular music from Berlin to Sondheim, incorporating as many of the leading songwriters as possible.

This second version has expanded the scope of the first and now includes new songs, written in the last few years. Also watch out for a big medley of film songs, all of which you will know, but none of which, inexplicably, won an Oscar for best song.

Steve and Chris were well-known performers in Newport until they moved to Reigate in 1997. Many people will remember them from shows presented by Newport Playgoers Society, Newport Operatic Society and Cwmbran Operatic Society. Since leaving South Wales, they have continued their theatrical pursuits in Surrey. Steve has acted in the choreographed Sondheim's Company for the Nomad Theatre Company, directed Habeas Corpus for the Archway Theatre Company and is looking forward to appearing in Me and My Girl for Crawley Operatic Society in October. He will also be directing them in Follies in 2002. This year Chris has played Fagin in Oliver and the Emcee in Cabaret for the Nomad Theatre Company and will be directing Hay Fever for them in October.

Meanwhile, Jon has done the reverse. After many years absence from Newport, pursuing his career in teaching, a few years ago Jon returned to Newport, since when he has lent his expertise to numerous musical ventures.

This year, he went back to acting after a gap of 25 years and promptly won the Best Actor Award from the Gwent Drama League for his performance as Georgie in Make Way For Lucia in Newport Playgoers production.

Steve, Chris and Jon are also delighted that Stephen Nasrat is able to join them once again as percussionist before he goes off to Drum Technical College in London this autumn.

The Company hopes to see many of their friends and supporters at the Dolman Theatre in their newly devised show on September 8 at 7.30pm.

Then on September 22nd, the Dolman Theatre welcomes Serendipity, a group of singers from London who specialise in staging revues celebrating the work of musical theatre composers, who, in Newport for the first time, are presenting the music of Ivor Novello to mark the 50th anniversary of his death.

Joining them as special guest artiste will be the well-known soprano Marilyn Hill Smith, a regular broadcaster on radio (Friday Night is Music Night) etc and TV. Marilyn has appeared with the English National Opera, Scottish Opera, New Sadlers Wells Opera and the Royal Opera Covent Garden and has been hailed by critics as the finest operetta soprano of her generation. Don't miss this magical evening. Tickets available from Pat Wells-West, telephone 01633 265660 also personal callers Tourist Information, Newport Museum, John Frost Square, Newport.