NEW Earswick Musical Society's centenary production will be Mack And Mabel, at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York, next week.

Society regulars Julie Hannah, new chairman SteveTearle, Perri Barley, Chris Haggard and Steve Padfield are among the cast in final rehearsals for the Jerry Herman and Michael Stewart musical, under the direction of Anne McCreadie and musical director Don Pears.

Best known for Tap Your Troubles Away and I Won't Send Roses, Mack And Mabel opens in 1938 as the sun sets on the days of silent film, effectively ending Mack Sennett’s career.

In a series of flashbacks, the great Hollywood comic director reminisces about his career from the sound stage of the studios he once dominated, as he re-lives the glory days of the Keystone Studios from1910, when he discovered Mabel Normand, star of dozens of his early “two-reelers”.

Mack and Mabel fall in love but when they fail to reach the altar, Mabel leaves Mack and he goes on to invent the Keystone Kops, whose iconic image comes to define silent film comedy. Their tempestuous relationship continues over the years as each suffers both personal and professional highs and lows.

Mack And Mabel was released for amateur performances in 2000, resulting in many British productions. However, Jerry Herman and Francine Pascal were not happy with the show, feeling that more work needed to be done and so they withdrew it after only 12 months.

A new professional production opened on tour in 2005, transferring to the Criterion Theatre in London’s West End for four months. This version was adapted to the distinctive performance style of John Doyle, a former artistic director of York Theatre Royal, where his actor-musician shows became his trademark, and it is this revised edition that New Earswick Musical Society will use.

Experienced York actor Steve Tearle will star as Mack after leading roles in The King And I , Fiddler On The Roof , The Producers and Bad Girls, The Musical. Julie Hannah has stepped out the chorus to play Mabel and other roles go to Perri Barley as Lottie; Chris Hagyard as Fatty; Steve Padfield,Frank; Richard Rogers, Baumann; Jo Pears, Ella; Kevin Bowes, Desmond, and Mark Friend, Kessel.

New Earswick Musical Society was founded in 1914, when its productions were staged in the New Earswick Folk Hall in the form of play readings, one-act plays and the occasional Gilbert & Sullivan operetta. In 1933, the society boasted as many as 260 members; in 1968, performances were moved to the Joseph Rowntree Theatre, where the society continues to present its musicals.

Mack And Mabel will run there from next Wednesday to Saturday with evening shows at 7.30pm and a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm. Tickets cost £10 to £15 on 07759 260852 or at newearswickmusicalsociety