Review from Southern Daily Echo

"Fareham Musical Society score another coup in presenting the southern region premiere of Billy. Based on the Keith Waterhouse book, Billy Liar became a stage play and then a film which metamorphosed into Billy with music by John Barry and lyrics by Don Black. Covering one day in the life of Billy who lives with his parents and gran, all the events take place in Stradhoughton, Yorkshire. Billy is usually in trouble. He works for an undertaker and has, apparently, three girlfriends, as well as a relationship with Marilyn Monroe who seems to live in his wardrobe. The society has come up with yet another excellent evening’s entertainment. On opening night it was delivered to an appreciative but less than full house. Dance routines created by Wezley Mustapha included an excellent glitzy tap number which was only one of many first rate dance routines throughout the production. Funny, sad, and musically sound, Billy is worth a visit. Honest!"

Review from The News

"When the musical Billy, starring Michael Crawford, opened at Drury lane in 1974, the reviews included such comments as “the most successful musical since Oliver and Billy is the brightest British musical for years”. The excellent production of Billy last week at the Ferneham hall by Fareham Musical Society lived up to all those reviews. All the leads were well cast, the chorus and the dancing were first rate, particularly in the closing first act number Aren’t you Billy Fisher? One slight criticism. The large orchestra played very well but without an orchestra pit it tended to drown out many of the lyrics-two of the songs being specially written for the production by composer John Barry."