Sadly for me, it was a first opening night without the company of the society's much-loved president, Ernest Fuller, unable to make it this time due to ill-health.
I know that I'm certainly not alone in offering the very best of wishes.
Poignantly, it was also a first for Ernest's grand-daughter, Meg Parfitt, making her debut in a lead role after years of determinedly remaining in the background.
Taking confidence from an excellent, extremely energetic performance by Pete Routley as Kipps, Meg blossomed in the demanding role of his cockney girlfriend, Ann.
Dave Williams, Mike Bobbett and Rhys Bebb injected humour with three well rounded performances as Sid, Buggins and Pearce whilst Angela Everett, Sarah Purnell and Leanne Clarke proved their perfect counterfoils as Flo, Victoria and Kate.
Dave Green (Shalford)and Graham Bryant(Chitterlow)called on shared experience to keep the action moving, whilst Jan Parfitt and Sian Williams brought just the right amount of comic snobbery to their roles as Mrs Walsingham and daughter, Helen.
Full credit must go to the talented Louise Haycock, who gave up treading the boards to solely direct and choreograph this challenging new Warner Brown version of the well-loved musical.
The large cast clearly responded with both respect and affection, resulting in making this one of the most colourful and uplifting productions to date."