It’s the musical about performers’ love for theatre, music and dance.

So it’s apt that Birkenhead Operatic Society members, all busy rehearsing in their spare time, chose 42nd Street as their Empire performance. Doubly apt as the 1933 film was set in the height of the great Depression.

It tells the age-old story of a director’s one last throw of the dice, to put on a great show against the odds. The leading lady falls ill – and it’s up to the young, beautiful novice to fill her shoes.

Harnessed to a pretty divine score including 42nd Street, We’re In the Money and the Lullaby of Broad Street, and an orchestra from the Royal Northern College of Music, the singing was the great joy of this production. You were reminded of the company’s operatic pedigree time and time again – even the most minor members of the cast excelled.

Choreographer Graeme Henderson created some mesmerising routines, evoking all the leg-kicking dazzle of the 30s. Jay Hardy’s bravura tap routine as Andy Lee in Go Into Your Dance was an obvious highlight as were the final scenes of Pretty Lady, the fictional show.

Gareth Casey-Morris as Julian Marsh stole the show with a performance that would credit any professional outfit. Versatile Amanda Lane, 18, as Peggy Sawyer will be a talent to watch in years to come.

The cast and technicians of BOST had, incredibly, only two full rehearsals on the Empire stage before curtains went up, but the first night passed with barely a hitch.

It was a loud production – at times very loud – but the voices were so good, it wasn’t a problem. Some of the lead roles could vary delivery a little better to ramp up pathos and tension, but they were minor quibbles.

BOST put on a night of top notch entertainment, thanks to the passion for performance, visible in every scene. It would hold it’s own next to many professional productions.

EMMA PINCH