Figure 1.--The 199? production of The Choir show cased the formal vestments of an English cathedral choir. The main character played by Anthony Way is an accomplished chorister with several musical releases.

One of the better productions about choirs was a recent BBC series called The Choir featured a noted young singer. This excellent production concerns the financial problem of maintaing a great cathedral. The dean of the cathedral decides the only way to save the cathedral is to close the choir. The choir master attemts to save the choir by opposing the dean before the choir's govenors. In the mean time he has one of the chorisers make a record which proves to be a popular success. There are sevveral sub-plots to the film which diverge from the central story of the choir.

Filmography

The Choir was shown in the United States as a multi-night mini-series, of course on PBS.

Book

"The Choir" was based on Joanna Trollope's book.

Actors/Vocalists

The film introduced the world to the vocal talent of one young Anthony Way who was about 11 years old. Anthony is superb in voice and acting. Anthony appeared in a another movie a bit later as Tom Long in "Tom's Midnight Garden" (1998). Anthony made two albums, "Wings of a Dove" (1997) and a "Choirboys Christmas" (1996).

Story Line

This excellent production concerns the financial problem of maintaing a great cathedral. The British cathedral's budget is in trouble, likewise the church's choir. The dean of the cathedral decides the only way to save the cathedral is to close the choir. The choir master attemts to save the choir by opposing the dean before the choir's govenors. To save the choir, the young Henry Ashworth's talents are put to work in recording a CD which becomes an instant hit across the country. As best I can tell, the Dean is just plain unhappy with life, but especially unhappy when anyone does anything without his specific approval. To get even, he has the headmaster's house sold. Meanwhile, young Henry's mother falls out-of-love with young Henry's father and begins an affair with Henry's choir director. Poor Henry gets a new director and we assume--a new life. God knows he deserves one. My favorite line from the Dean's wife: "I wish I had never heard of the wretched choir!"In the mean time he has one of the chorisers make a record which proves to be a popular success. There are sevveral sub-plots to the film which diverge from the central story of the choir.

Figure 2.--Most English cathedrral choirs draw their choisters from an attached Anglican or Catholic school. "The Choir" was set in an Anglican cathedral with several school scenes. Note the school ties.

English Choirs

Most English cathedrral choirs draw their choisters from an attached Anglican or Catholic school.

Clothing

There are thus many realistic images of choristers in a full English choir costume, with a large ruff or collar, as well as in their school uniforms. If I remember correctly the main character, who likes jeans, makes some derisive comments about the choir costume. The choir costume shown was not an actual one in use. The costume the choir wears is not the one the main caharacter, played by Anthoby Ware, wore in the choir he belonged to in real life. The TV costume featured a much more prominent ruff. He also appeared in typical striped pjs and play shorts.