He Found a Star

This wartime British musical makes no reference to WWII raging in Europe at the time, and obviously was intended to cheer up the home front. The plot concerns a struggling theatrical agent, Vic Oliver, getting started by giving breaks to unknowns, aided by his faithful secretary, Sarah Churchill. Oliver is extremely personable, but Churchill seemed miscast, acting distant towards him, yet apparently yearning for him all the time. I guess her forte is dramatic roles. There are lots of variety acts, but only two that stood out for me: the one-man band by Robert Atkins, who winds up having five mouthpieces of wind instruments in his mouth at one time - you've got to see and hear it to believe it; and the rich baritone voice of Uriel Porter. I also enjoyed seeing, in a minor role as Churchill's kid sister, a very young Joan Greenwood, who I recognized because of her unique whispery voice. Aside from these items, it wasn't much of a musical.