Dear Editor,

What a surprise to see the photo in last week’s Ross Gazette of a production of South Pacific, after all these years. ‘South Pacific’ – I remember it well.

It was the second full-scale show put on by Larruperz Light Opera following my inaugural production of ‘Carousel’ in 1996. Dave Fishpool (a gentleman and superb musician) was the Musical Director and his wife Jo played ‘Bloody Mary’ and sang ‘Bali-Hai’ amongst others.

I directed as well as playing Emil de Beque and with Les Haynes (a most accomplished accompanist) performed the delightful ‘Some Enchanted Evening’ playing opposite Alison as Nelly Forbush.

And Charlotte, the manager of the Ross Gazette? Together with Liam Lee-Hynes (also pictured) she was one of Emile’s two children to whom he returns at the end.

I remember Charlotte and Liam opened the show tossing a ball around the stage in Emil’s tropical garden.

Larruperz Light Opera went on to do a wonderful series of shows and pantomimes in the years that followed. Did we all know that Charlotte was destined for great things in the years that followed? – I can’t say we did; she was such a happy, carefree little imp!

Brian Jackson

Ross-on-Wye