1918 and All That

This musical tribute to 1918, interspersed with witty informative narration by Kevin King, all had a connection - albeit a rather tenuous connection at times - with this centenary year and end to the Great War.

Its authenticity was well  documented by the use of a projection screen on the stage wall, showing  war footage, well handled by  Elliot Cooper.

Rather than choose a whole evening of songs only from 1918 or First World War period, musical director Elizabeth Cooper, together with stage co-directors Annie Genower and Joan Cannell sensibly widened the music content. They still managed, however to find a link with the music closer to 1918 - as Kevin amusingly informed us - even were it only that the composer was born in that year or had lived locally;  Leonard Bernstein was born 1918 and the two show closing numbers used were from his "West Side Story".

The music was provided by Liz Cooper on keyboard with assured backing by John Mitchell, including some appropriate uses of a whistle and with Nick Handel on drums/percussion. I applaud both the choice of songs and the standard of band playing.

As ever in amateur musical theatre, the singing and performing talents covered a wide spectrum of various abilities. Two child performers stood out, both because of their extreme youth, vitality and obvious stage presence. Both had lovely singing voices and are ambitious, in time, to enter the profession. Their names, which I will now follow with much interest, are Darcey Conway and Elise Stannard.

The choreographer Valerie Carr had set some, mostly, not complicated movements, which were carried out splendidly and the suitable and period costumes were very well researched and well fitted by Joan Cannell on wardrobe, assisted by Rita Anderson.

Using the screen avoided the need for over much stage furniture or set. When the two "Camelot" numbers were featured, we saw the King Arthur legendary round table while the rich and mature baritone of Dave Strike splendidly sang "if ever I would leave you".

In a wide ranging  style of songs, forty in all and too many to mention in full, I will now highlight my own favourites, together with the afore mentioned song, by performance ability rather than merely personal taste.   They are:-

"Let's face the Music and Dance" - company opening number
"I'll make a Man of You"  - Gloria Smith
"We're a Couple of Swells" - Valerie Carr and Ken Smith
"Burlington Bertie" - Elise - a true sit up and take notice moment, if ever I saw one
"All the Nice Girls Love a Sailor" - Diane Slater, singing beautifully, plus company
"I won't send Roses" (reprise) - Valerie
"Sister Suffragette" - Kavitha Parameswaran and all women
"Till we meet again" - Annie Genower and Diane
"Keep the Home Fires Burning" - Company
"Wouldn't it be Loverly" - Charlie Clutten with Cliff Jones, Ken, Dave and Andy Bloomfield - with effective choreography
"Do you Love Me?" - Gloria Smith and Iain Cannell
"Matchmaker" - Alice Hardman, Elise and Darcey - charmingly performed
All three numbers from "Chicago" were truly special with lovely singing, dancing, costumes with the outstanding single number in the whole show given by Kavitha in "When You're good to Mama";  magical!

A very strong finish was provided by a tingling "America" with colourful costumes and good dancing.

An effective final encore of "Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines" preceded a patriotic reminder that the wonderful Women's Institute reached its centenary this year. As all sang "Jerusalem", including the whole audience, and waved numerous Union flags - many others also decorated the hall too and played an important role in the whole evening - we left in high spirits having been thoroughly entertained by this warm, enthusiastic and talented company.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.